From Tyre's Fall to Gospel's Rise

1. Yahweh’s word came again to me, saying, 2. “You, son of man, take up a lamentation over Tyre; 3. and tell Tyre, ‘You who dwell at the entry of the sea, who are the merchant of the peoples to many islands, thus says the Lord Yahweh: “You, Tyre, have said, ‘I am perfect in beauty.’ 4. Your borders are in the heart of the seas. Your builders have perfected your beauty. 5. They have made all your planks of cypress trees from Senir. They have taken a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you. 6. They have made your oars of the oaks of Bashan. They have made your benches of ivory inlaid in boxwood from the islands of Kittim. 7. Your sail was of fine linen with embroidered work from Egypt, that it might be to you for a banner. Blue and purple from the islands of Elishah was your awning. 8. The inhabitants of Sidon and Arvad were your rowers. Your wise men, Tyre, were in you. They were your pilots. 9. The old men of Gebal and its wise men were your repairers of ship seams in you. All the ships of the sea with their mariners were in you to deal in your merchandise. 10. “‘“Persia, Lud, and Put were in your army, your men of war. They hung the shield and helmet in you. They showed your beauty. 11. The men of Arvad with your army were on your walls all around, and valient men were in your towers. They hung their shields on your walls all around. They have perfected your beauty. 12. “‘“Tarshish was your merchant by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches. They traded for your wares with silver, iron, tin, and lead. 13. “‘“Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were your traders. They traded the persons of men and vessels of brass for your merchandise. 14. “‘“They of the house of Togarmah traded for your wares with horses, war horses, and mules. 15. “‘“The men of Dedan traded with you. Many islands were the market of your hand. They brought you horns of ivory and ebony in exchange. 16. “‘“Syria was your merchant by reason of the multitude of your handiworks. They traded for your wares with emeralds, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and rubies. 17. “‘“Judah and the land of Israel were your traders. They traded wheat of Minnith, confections, honey, oil, and balm for your merchandise. 18. “‘“Damascus was your merchant for the multitude of your handiworks, by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches, with the wine of Helbon, and white wool. 19. “‘“Vedan and Javan traded with yarn for your wares: bright iron, cassia, and calamus were among your merchandise. 20. “‘“Dedan was your trafficker in precious cloths for riding. 21. “‘“Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar were the merchants of your hand; in lambs, rams, and goats. In these, they were your merchants. 22. “‘“The traders of Sheba and Raamah were your traders. They traded for your wares with the chief of all spices, and with all precious stones, and gold. 23. “‘“Haran, Canneh, and Eden, the traders of Sheba, Asshur and Chilmad, were your traders. 24. These were your traders in choice wares, in wrappings of blue and embroidered work, and in chests of rich clothing, bound with cords and made of cedar, among your merchandise. 25. “‘“The ships of Tarshish were your caravans for your merchandise. You were replenished and made very glorious in the heart of the seas. 26. Your rowers have brought you into great waters. The east wind has broken you in the heart of the seas. 27. Your riches, your wares, your merchandise, your mariners, your pilots, your repairers of ship seams, the dealers in your merchandise, and all your men of war, who are in you, with all your company which is among you, will fall into the heart of the seas in the day of your ruin. 28. At the sound of the cry of your pilots, the suburbs will shake. 29. All who handle the oars, the mariners and all the pilots of the sea, will come down from their ships. They will stand on the land, 30. and will cause their voice to be heard over you, and will cry bitterly. They will cast up dust on their heads. They will wallow in the ashes. 31. They will make themselves bald for you, and clothe themselves with sackcloth. They will weep for you in bitterness of soul, with bitter mourning. 32. In their wailing they will take up a lamentation for you, and lament over you, saying, ‘Who is there like Tyre, like her who is brought to silence in the middle of the sea?’ 33. When your wares went out of the seas, you filled many peoples. You enriched the kings of the earth with the multitude of your riches and of your merchandise. 34. In the time that you were broken by the seas, in the depths of the waters, your merchandise and all your company fell within you. 35. All the inhabitants of the islands are astonished at you, and their kings are horribly afraid. They are troubled in their face. 36. The merchants among the peoples hiss at you. You have become a terror, and you will be no more.”’” 1. Yahweh’s word came again to me, saying, 2. “Son of man, tell the prince of Tyre, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Because your heart is lifted up, and you have said, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of God, in the middle of the seas;’ yet you are man, and not God, though you set your heart as the heart of God— 3. behold, you are wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that is hidden from you; 4. by your wisdom and by your understanding you have gotten yourself riches, and have gotten gold and silver into your treasures; 5. by your great wisdom and by your trading you have increased your riches, and your heart is lifted up because of your riches—” 6. “‘therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Because you have set your heart as the heart of God, 7. therefore, behold, I will bring strangers on you, the terrible of the nations. They will draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom. They will defile your brightness. 8. They will bring you down to the pit. You will die the death of those who are slain in the heart of the seas. 9. Will you yet say before him who kills you, ‘I am God’? But you are man, and not God, in the hand of him who wounds you. 10. You will die the death of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers; for I have spoken it,” says the Lord Yahweh.’” 11. Moreover Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, 12. “Son of man, take up a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and tell him, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “You were the seal of full measure, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. 13. You were in Eden, the garden of God. Every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz, emerald, chrysolite, onyx, jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and beryl. Gold work of tambourines and of pipes was in you. They were prepared in the day that you were created. 14. You were the anointed cherub who covers. Then I set you up on the holy mountain of God. You have walked up and down in the middle of the stones of fire. 15. You were perfect in your ways from the day that you were created, until unrighteousness was found in you. 16. By the abundance of your commerce, your insides were filled with violence, and you have sinned. Therefore I have cast you as profane out of God’s mountain. I have destroyed you, covering cherub, from the middle of the stones of fire. 17. Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty. You have corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor. I have cast you to the ground. I have laid you before kings, that they may see you. 18. By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your commerce, you have profaned your sanctuaries. Therefore I have brought out a fire from the middle of you. It has devoured you. I have turned you to ashes on the earth in the sight of all those who see you. 19. All those who know you among the peoples will be astonished at you. You have become a terror, and you will exist no more.”’” 20. Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, 21. “Son of man, set your face toward Sidon, and prophesy against it, 22. and say, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Behold, I am against you, Sidon. I will be glorified among you. Then they will know that I am Yahweh, when I have executed judgments in her, and am sanctified in her. 23. For I will send pestilence into her, and blood into her streets. The wounded will fall within her, with the sword on her on every side. Then they will know that I am Yahweh. 24. “‘“There will be no more a pricking brier to the house of Israel, nor a hurting thorn of any that are around them that scorned them. Then they will know that I am the Lord Yahweh.” 25. “‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “When I have gathered the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and am sanctified in them in the sight of the nations, then they will dwell in their own land which I gave to my servant Jacob. 26. They will dwell in it securely. Yes, they will build houses, plant vineyards, and will dwell securely, when I have executed judgments on all those who scorn them all around. Then they will know that I am Yahweh their God.”’” 1. In the tenth year, in the tenth month, on the twelfth day of the month, Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, 2. “Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt. 3. Speak and say, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Behold, I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great monster that lies in the middle of his rivers, that has said, ‘My river is my own, and I have made it for myself.’ 4. I will put hooks in your jaws, and I will make the fish of your rivers stick to your scales. I will bring you up out of the middle of your rivers, with all the fish of your rivers which stick to your scales. 5. I’ll cast you out into the wilderness, you and all the fish of your rivers. You’ll fall on the open field. You won’t be brought together or gathered. I have given you for food to the animals of the earth and to the birds of the sky. 6. “‘“All the inhabitants of Egypt will know that I am Yahweh, because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel. 7. When they took hold of you by your hand, you broke, and tore all their shoulders. When they leaned on you, you broke, and paralyzed all of their thighs.” 8. “‘Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Behold, I will bring a sword on you, and will cut off man and animal from you. 9. The land of Egypt will be a desolation and a waste. Then they will know that I am Yahweh. “‘“Because he has said, ‘The river is mine, and I have made it;’ 10. therefore, behold, I am against you, and against your rivers. I will make the land of Egypt an utter waste and desolation, from the tower of Seveneh even to the border of Ethiopia. 11. No foot of man will pass through it, nor will any animal foot pass through it. It won’t be inhabited for forty years. 12. I will make the land of Egypt a desolation in the middle of the countries that are desolate. Her cities among the cities that are laid waste will be a desolation forty years. I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.” 13. “‘For thus says the Lord Yahweh: “At the end of forty years will I gather the Egyptians from the peoples where they were scattered. 14. I will reverse the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their birth. They will be a lowly kingdom, there. 15. It will be the lowest of the kingdoms. It won’t lift itself up above the nations any more. I will diminish them, so that they will no longer rule over the nations. 16. It will no longer be the confidence of the house of Israel, bringing iniquity to memory, when they turn to look after them. Then they will know that I am the Lord Yahweh.”’” 17. It came to pass in the twenty-seventh year, in the first month, in the first day of the month, Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, 18. “Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyre. Every head was made bald, and every shoulder was worn; yet he had no wages, nor did his army, from Tyre, for the service that he had served against it. 19. Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: ‘Behold, I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. He will carry off her multitude, take her plunder, and take her prey. That will be the wages for his army. 20. I have given him the land of Egypt as his payment for which he served, because they worked for me,’ says the Lord Yahweh. 21. “In that day I will cause a horn to sprout for the house of Israel, and I will open your mouth among them. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.”

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. Now the apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. 2. When Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision contended with him, 3. saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men, and ate with them!” 4. But Peter began, and explained to them in order, saying, 5. “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision: a certain container descending, like it was a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners. It came as far as me. 6. When I had looked intently at it, I considered, and saw the four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky. 7. I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter, kill and eat!’ 8. But I said, ‘Not so, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered into my mouth.’ 9. But a voice answered me the second time out of heaven, ‘What God has cleansed, don’t you call unclean.’ 10. This was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven. 11. Behold, immediately three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent from Caesarea to me. 12. The Spirit told me to go with them, without discriminating. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house. 13. He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying to him, ‘Send to Joppa, and get Simon, who is called Peter, 14. who will speak to you words by which you will be saved, you and all your house.’ 15. As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning. 16. I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.’ 17. If then God gave to them the same gift as us, when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?” 18. When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life!” 19. They therefore who were scattered abroad by the oppression that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews only. 20. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21. The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. 22. The report concerning them came to the ears of the assembly which was in Jerusalem. They sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch, 23. who, when he had come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad. He exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they should remain near to the Lord. 24. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and many people were added to the Lord. 25. Barnabas went out to Tarsus to look for Saul. 26. When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they were gathered together with the assembly, and taught many people. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. 27. Now in these days, prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28. One of them named Agabus stood up, and indicated by the Spirit that there should be a great famine all over the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius. 29. As any of the disciples had plenty, each determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea; 30. which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. 1. Now about that time, King Herod stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly. 2. He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword. 3. When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This was during the days of unleavened bread. 4. When he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. 5. Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him. 6. The same night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of the door kept the prison. 7. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side, and woke him up, saying, “Stand up quickly!” His chains fell off from his hands. 8. The angel said to him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” He did so. He said to him, “Put on your cloak, and follow me.” 9. And he went out and followed him. He didn’t know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a vision. 10. When they were past the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went out, and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. 11. When Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I truly know that the Lord has sent out his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting.” 12. Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. 13. When Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer. 14. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she didn’t open the gate for joy, but ran in, and reported that Peter was standing in front of the gate. 15. They said to her, “You are crazy!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.” 16. But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him, and were amazed. 17. But he, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, “Tell these things to James, and to the brothers.” Then he departed, and went to another place. 18. Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter. 19. When Herod had sought for him, and didn’t find him, he examined the guards, and commanded that they should be put to death. He went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there. 20. Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus, the king’s personal aide, their friend, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food. 21. On an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them. 22. The people shouted, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” 23. Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn’t give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died. 24. But the word of God grew and multiplied. 25. Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them John who was called Mark. 1. Now in the assembly that was at Antioch there were some prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2. As they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work to which I have called them.” 3. Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 4. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus. 5. When they were at Salamis, they proclaimed God’s word in the Jewish synagogues. They had also John as their attendant. 6. When they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar Jesus, 7. who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul, and sought to hear the word of God. 8. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9. But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him, 10. and said, “Full of all deceit and all cunning, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? 11. Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is on you, and you will be blind, not seeing the sun for a season!” Immediately a mist and darkness fell on him. He went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12. Then the proconsul, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord. 13. Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, and came to Perga in Pamphylia. John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem. 14. But they, passing on from Perga, came to Antioch of Pisidia. They went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and sat down. 15. After the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, speak.” 16. Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen. 17. The God of this people chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they stayed as aliens in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm, he led them out of it. 18. For a period of about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. 19. When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land for an inheritance, for about four hundred fifty years. 20. After these things he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. 21. Afterward they asked for a king, and God gave to them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22. When he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, to whom he also testified, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’ 23. From this man’s offspring, God has brought salvation to Israel according to his promise, 24. before his coming, when John had first preached the baptism of repentance to Israel. 25. As John was fulfilling his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. But behold, one comes after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’ 26. Brothers, children of the stock of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, the word of this salvation is sent out to you. 27. For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they didn’t know him, nor the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. 28. Though they found no cause for death, they still asked Pilate to have him killed. 29. When they had fulfilled all things that were written about him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a tomb. 30. But God raised him from the dead, 31. and he was seen for many days by those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses to the people. 32. We bring you good news of the promise made to the fathers, 33. that God has fulfilled the same to us, their children, in that he raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second psalm, ‘You are my Son. Today I have become your father.’ 34. “Concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he has spoken thus: ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’ 35. Therefore he says also in another psalm, ‘You will not allow your Holy One to see decay.’ 36. For David, after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God, fell asleep, and was laid with his fathers, and saw decay. 37. But he whom God raised up saw no decay. 38. Be it known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man is proclaimed to you remission of sins, 39. and by him everyone who believes is justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. 40. Beware therefore, lest that come on you which is spoken in the prophets: 41. ‘Behold, you scoffers, and wonder, and perish; for I work a work in your days, a work which you will in no way believe, if one declares it to you.’” 42. So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. 43. Now when the synagogue broke up, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God. 44. The next Sabbath, almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of God. 45. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, and blasphemed. 46. Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, and said, “It was necessary that God’s word should be spoken to you first. Since indeed you thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 47. For so has the Lord commanded us, saying, ‘I have set you as a light for the Gentiles, that you should bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth.’” 48. As the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of God. As many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 49. The Lord’s word was spread abroad throughout all the region. 50. But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and threw them out of their borders. 51. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came to Iconium. 52. The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. 1. In Iconium, they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of Jews and of Greeks believed. 2. But the disbelieving Jews stirred up and embittered the souls of the Gentiles against the brothers. 3. Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who testified to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 4. But the multitude of the city was divided. Part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles. 5. When some of both the Gentiles and the Jews, with their rulers, made a violent attempt to mistreat and stone them, 6. they became aware of it, and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra, Derbe, and the surrounding region. 7. There they preached the Good News. 8. At Lystra a certain man sat, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked. 9. He was listening to Paul speaking, who, fastening eyes on him, and seeing that he had faith to be made whole, 10. said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet!” He leaped up and walked. 11. When the multitude saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the language of Lycaonia, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” 12. They called Barnabas “Jupiter”, and Paul “Mercury”, because he was the chief speaker. 13. The priest of Jupiter, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and would have made a sacrifice along with the multitudes. 14. But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they tore their clothes, and sprang into the multitude, crying out, 15. “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to the living God, who made the sky, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them; 16. who in the generations gone by allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. 17. Yet he didn’t leave himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you rains from the sky and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” 18. Even saying these things, they hardly stopped the multitudes from making a sacrifice to them. 19. But some Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there, and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. 20. But as the disciples stood around him, he rose up, and entered into the city. On the next day he went out with Barnabas to Derbe. 21. When they had preached the Good News to that city, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22. confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many afflictions we must enter into God’s Kingdom. 23. When they had appointed elders for them in every assembly, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed. 24. They passed through Pisidia, and came to Pamphylia. 25. When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26. From there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled. 27. When they had arrived, and had gathered the assembly together, they reported all the things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith to the nations. 28. They stayed there with the disciples for a long time.

1. Hear, Yahweh, my righteous plea; Give ear to my prayer, that doesn’t go out of deceitful lips. 2. Let my sentence come out of your presence. Let your eyes look on equity. 3. You have proved my heart. You have visited me in the night. You have tried me, and found nothing. I have resolved that my mouth shall not disobey. 4. As for the deeds of men, by the word of your lips, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent. 5. My steps have held fast to your paths. My feet have not slipped. 6. I have called on you, for you will answer me, God. Turn your ear to me. Hear my speech. 7. Show your marvelous loving kindness, you who save those who take refuge by your right hand from their enemies. 8. Keep me as the apple of your eye. Hide me under the shadow of your wings, 9. from the wicked who oppress me, my deadly enemies, who surround me. 10. They close up their callous hearts. With their mouth they speak proudly. 11. They have now surrounded us in our steps. They set their eyes to cast us down to the earth. 12. He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey, as it were a young lion lurking in secret places. 13. Arise, Yahweh, confront him. Cast him down. Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword; 14. from men by your hand, Yahweh, from men of the world, whose portion is in this life. You fill the belly of your cherished ones. Your sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children. 15. As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with seeing your form.