 Chapter 1 of Acts American Standard Version This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information and to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Sam Stinson by hisfaith.com Chapter 1 The former treatise I made O Theophilus concerning all that Jesus began both to do and to teach until the day in which he was received up. After that he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit unto the apostles whom he had chosen, to whom he also showed himself alive after his passion by many proofs appearing unto them by the space of 40 days and speaking the things concerning the kingdom of God. In being assembled together with them, he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem but to wait for the promise of the Father which said he, Ye heard from me, for John indeed baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit, not many days hence. They therefore, when they were come together, asked him saying, Lord, does Thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father hath set within his own authority, but ye shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had said these things as they were looking, he was taken up and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they were looking steadfastly into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel who also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye looking into heaven? This Jesus who was received up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as he beheld him going into heaven. Then returned they unto Jerusalem, from the mount called Olivet, which is nigh unto Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey off. And when they were come in, they went up into the upper chamber where they were abiding, both Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alpheus and Simon the zealot and Judas the son of James. These all with one accord continued steadfastly in prayer with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brethren. And in these days Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren and said, and there was a multitude of persons gathered together, about a hundred and twenty. Brethren, it was needful that the scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spake before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was guide to them that took Jesus, for he was numbered among us and received his portion in this ministry. Now this man obtained a field with the reward of his iniquity, and falling headlong he burst a sunder in the midst and all his bowels gushed out. And it became known to all the dwellers of Jerusalem in so much that in their language that field was called akaldama, that is the field of blood. Ferd is written in the book of Psalms, let his habitation be made desolate and let no man dwell therein, and his office let another take. Of the men therefore that have accompanied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and went out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day that he was received up from us, of these must one become a witness with us of his resurrection. And they put forward two, Joseph called Bar Sabus, who was surnamed Justice, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show of these two the one whom thou hast chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away, that he might go to his own place. And they gave lots for them and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. End of chapter one. Chapter two of Acts, American Standard Version. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information and to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org, recording by Sam Stinson, by hisfaith.com. Chapter two. And when the day of Pentecost was now come, they were all together in one place, and suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting, and there appeared unto them tongues, parting asunder like as of fire, and it sat upon each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And when this sound was heard, the multitude came together and were confounded because that every man heard them speaking in his own language. And they were all amazed and marveled, saying, Behold, are not all these that speak Galileans? And how here we every man in our own language wherein we were born, Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia and Judea and Cappadocia and Pontus and Asia and Phrygia and Pamphlia in Egypt and the parts of Libya about Serene and sojourners from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians. We hear them speaking in our tongues, the mighty works of God. And they were all amazed and were perplexed, saying one to another, What meaneth this? But others, mocking, said, they are filled with new wine. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and spake forth unto them, saying, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and give ear unto my words. For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which hath been spoken through the prophet Joel. And it shall be in the last days, sayeth God, I will pour forth of my spirit upon all flesh. And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Yea, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days, will I pour forth of my spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heaven above, and signs on the earth beneath, blood and fire and vapor of smoke, the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the day of the Lord come, that great and notable day, and it shall be that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Ye men of Israel, hear these words, Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God unto you by mighty works and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, even as ye yourselves know, him being delivered up by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye by the hand of lawless men, did crucify and slay, whom God raised up, having loosed the pangs of death, because it was not possible that he should be holding of it. For David saith concerning him, I beheld the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand that I should not be moved. Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced. Moreover my flesh also shall dwell in hope, because thou wilt not leave my soul into hades, neither wilt thou give thy holy one to see corruption. Thou madeest known unto me the ways of life, thou shalt make me full of gladness with thy countenance. Brethren, I may say unto you freely of the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us unto this day. Being therefore a prophet and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his loins he would set one upon his throne, he for seeing this spake of the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he left unto hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This, Jesus, did God raise up, whereof we all are witnesses. Being therefore by the right hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he hath poured forth this, which ye see in here. For David ascended not into the heavens, but he sayeth himself, the Lord said unto my Lord, sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet. Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly the God hath made him, both Lord and Christ, this Jesus, whom ye crucified. Now, when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, brethren, what shall we do? And Peter said unto them, repent ye and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, unto the remission of your sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For to you is the promise and to your children and to all that are far off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him. And with many other words, he testified and exhorted them, saying, save yourselves from this crooked generation. They then that received his word were baptized, and there were added unto them in that day about 3,000 souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers. And fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles, and all that believed were together and had all things in common. And they sold their possessions and goods and parted them to all according as any man had need. And day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to them day by day, those that were saved. End of chapter 2. Chapter 3 of Acts, American Standard Version. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information and to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org recording by Sam Stinson by his faith.com. Chapter 3. Now, Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man that was lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the door of the temple, which is called beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple. He's seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked to receive an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, silver and gold, have I none, but what I have, that give I thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk. And he took him by the right hand and raised him up. And immediately his feet and his ankle bones received strength. And leaping up, he stood and began to walk. And he entered with them into the temple, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him, walking and praising God. And they took knowledge of him, that it was he that sat for alms at the beautiful gate of the temple. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. And as he held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering. And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this man? Or why fasten ye your eyes on us as though by our own power or godliness we had made him to walk? The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his servant Jesus, whom ye delivered up and denied before the face of Pilate, when he had determined to release him. But ye denied the holy and righteous one and asked for a murderer to be granted unto you and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, whereof we are witnesses. And by faith in his name, hath his name made this man strong, whom ye behold, and know, yea, the faith which is through him, hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. And now, brethren, I know that in ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. But the things which God foreshowed by the mouth of all the prophets that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent ye therefore and turn again that your sins may be blotted out, that so there may come seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ who hath been appointed for you, even Jesus, whom the heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, whereof God spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that have been from of old. Moses indeed said, a prophet shall the Lord God raise up unto you from among your brethren, like unto me, to him shall ye hearken in all things, whatsoever he shall speak unto you. And it shall be that every soul that shall not harken to that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people. Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and them that followed after, as many as have spoken, they also told of these days, ye are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying unto Abraham, and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Unto you first, God, having raised up his servant, sent him to bless you in turning away every one of you from your iniquities. End of chapter 3. Chapter 4 of Acts, American Standard Version. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information and to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org, recording by Sam Stinson, by hisfaith.com. Chapter 4. And as they spake unto the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came unto them, being sore trouble because they taught the people and proclaimed in Jesus the resurrection from the dead, and they laid hands on them and put them in ward unto the morrow, for it was now even tied. But many of them that heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. And it came to pass on the morrow that their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem, and Annas, the high priest, was there, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest. And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, by what power or in what name have ye done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them, ye rulers of the people and elders, if we this day are examined concerning a good deed done to an impotent man, by what means this man is made whole, be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even in him doth this man stand here before you, whole. He is the stone which was set at not of you, the builders, which was made the head of the corner, and in none other is there salvation, for neither is there any other name under heaven that is given among men, wherein we must be saved. Now, when they beheld the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled, and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus, and seeing the man that was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves saying, What shall we do to these men? For that indeed a notable miracle hath been wrought through them is manifest to all that dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But that it spread no further among the people, let us threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. And they called them and charged them not to speak at all, nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to hearken unto you rather than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we saw and heard, and they, when they had further threatened them, let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, for all men glorified God for that which was done, for the man was more than 40 years old on whom this miracle of healing was wrought. And being let go, they came to their own company and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said unto them, and they, when they heard it, lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, O Lord, thou that didst make the heaven and the earth in the sea, and all that in them is, who by the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our Father David, thy servant did say, why did the Gentiles rage and the peoples imagined vain things, the kings of the earth set themselves in array, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his anointed. For of a truth in this city against thy holy servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel were gathered together to do whatsoever thy hand in thy counsel foreordained to come to pass. And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings and grant unto thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness while thou stretched forth thy hand to heal and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of thy holy servant Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken wherein they were gathered together all filled with the Holy Spirit and they spake the word of God with boldness. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul and not one of them said that ought of the things which he possessed was his own. But they had all things common and with great power gave the apostles their witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and great grace was upon them all. For neither was there among them any that lacked, for as many as were possessors sold them and brought the prices of the things that were sold and laid them at the apostles feet and distribution was made unto each according as any one had need. And Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, which is being interpreted son of exhortation, a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race, having a field, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles feet. End of chapter 4. Chapter 5 of Acts American Standard Version This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information and to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Sam Stinson by hisfaith.com Chapter 5 But a certain man named Ananias with Sapphira his wife sold a possession and kept back part of the price. His wife also being privy to it and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the price of the land? While it remained, did it not remain thine own? And after it was sold, was it not in thy power? How is it that thou hast conceived this thing in thy heart? Thou hast not lied unto men but unto God. Ananias hearing these words fell down and gave up the ghost and great fear came upon all that hurt it. And the young men arose and wrapped him round and they carried him out and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after when his wife not knowing what was done came in. And Peter answered unto her, tell me whether ye sold the land for so much. And she said ye for so much. But Peter said unto her, how is it that ye have agreed together to try the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of them that have buried thy husband are at the door and they shall carry thee out. And she fell down immediately at his feet and gave up the ghost. And the young men came in and found her dead and they carried her out and buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon the whole church and on all that heard these things. And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. But of the rest, Dirst no man joined himself to them, albeit the people magnified them. And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women, and so much that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and couches as Peter came by, at least his shadow might overshadow some of them. And there also came together the multitude from the cities round about Jerusalem, bringing sick folk and them that were vexed with unclean spirits, and they were healed every one. But the high priest rose up and all they that were with him which is the sect of these Sadducees and they were filled with jealousy and laid hands on the apostles and put them in public the word. But an angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors and brought them out and said go ye and stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. And when they heard this they entered into the temple about daybreak and taught. But the high priest came and they that were with him and called the council together and all the senate of the children of Israel and sent to the prison house to have them brought. But the high priest found them not in the prison and they returned and told saying the prison house we found shut in all safety and the keepers standing at the doors but when we had opened we found no man within. Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priest heard these words they were much perplexed concerning them where into this would grow and there came one and told them, behold the men whom ye put in the prison were a couple standing and teaching the people. Then went the captain with the officers and brought them but without violence for they feared the people lest they should be stoned. And when they had brought them they set them before the council and the high priest asked them saying, we strictly charged you not to teach in this name and behold ye have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. Later in the apostles answered and said we must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom ye slew hanging him on a tree. Him did God exalt with his right hand to be a prince and a savior to give repentance to Israel and remission of sins. And we are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit whom God hath given to them that obey him. When they heard this were cut to the heart and were minded to slay them but there stood up one in the council a Pharisee named Gamaliel a doctor of the law had in honor of all the people and commanded to put the men forth a little while and he said unto them ye men of Israel take heed to yourselves as touching these men what ye are about to do. For before these days rose up Thetis giving himself out to be somebody to whom a number of men about 400 joined themselves who was slain and all as many as obeyed him were dispersed and came to not. After this man rose up Judas of Galilee and the days of the enrollment and drew away some of the people after him he also perished and all as many as obeyed him were scattered abroad. And now I say unto you refrain from these men and let them alone for if this council or this work be of men it will be overthrown but if it is of God ye will not be able to overthrow them lest happily ye be found even to be fighting against God and to him they agreed and when they had called the apostles unto them they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus and let them go they therefore departed from the presence of the council rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name and every day in the temple and at home they ceased not to teach and to preach Jesus as the Christ End of Chapter 5 Chapter 6 of Acts American Standard Version This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information and to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Sam Stinson by his faith.com Chapter 6 Now in these days when the number of the disciples was multiplying there arose a murmuring of the Grecian Jews against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration and the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them and said it is not fit that we should forsake the word of God and serve tables and therefore brethren from among you seven men of good report full of the spirit and of wisdom whom we may appoint over this business but we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word and the saying pleased the whole multitude and they chose Stephen a man full of faith of the Holy Spirit and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor and Nicholas a proselyte of Antioch whom they set before the apostles and when they had prayed they laid their hands upon them and the word of God increased and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith and Stephen full of grace and power wrought great wonders and signs among the people but there arose certain of them that were of the synagogue called the synagogue of the Libertines and of the Serenians and of the Alexandrians and of them of Cilicia and Asia disputing with Stephen and they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake then they suborned men who said we have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God and they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes and came upon him and seized him and brought him into the council and set up false witnesses who said this man seeseth not to speak words against this holy place and the law for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place and shall change the customs which Moses delivered on to us and all that sat in the council fastening their eyes on him saw his face as it had been the face of an angel End of Chapter 6 Chapter 7 of Acts American Standard Version This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information and to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Sam Stinson by his faith.com Chapter 7 And the High Priest said Are these things so? And he said Brethren and Fathers Harkin The God of Glory appeared unto our Father Abraham and he was in Mesopotamia before he dwelt in Heran and said unto him Get thee out of thy land and from thy kindred and come into the land which I shall show thee Then came he out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Heran and from thence when his father was dead God removed him into this land wherein ye now dwell and he gave him none inheritance in it, no not so much as to set his foot on and he promised that he would give it to him in possession and to his seed after him when as yet he had no child and God spake on this wise that his seed should sojourn in a strange land and that they should bring them into bondage and treat them ill 400 years and the nation to which they shall be in bondage will I judge said God and after that shall they come forth with me in this place and he gave him the covenant of circumcision and so Abraham begat Isaac and circumcised him the 8th day and Isaac begat Jacob and Jacob the 12 patriarchs and the patriarchs moved with jealousy against Joseph sold him into Egypt and God was with him and delivered him out of all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh king of Egypt and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house now there came a famine over all Egypt and Canaan and great affliction and our fathers found no sustenance but when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt he sent forth our fathers the first time and at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren and Joseph's race became manifest unto Pharaoh and Joseph sent and called to him Jacob his father and all his kindred and he scored in 15 souls and Jacob went down into Egypt and he died himself and our fathers and they were carried over unto Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a price in silver of the sons of Hamor in Shechem but as the time of the promise drew nigh which God vouchsafed unto Abraham the people grew and multiplied in Egypt till there arose another king not Joseph the same dealt craftily with our race and ill-treated our fathers that they should cast out their babes to the end they might not live at which season Moses was born and was exceeding fair and he was nourished three months in his father's house and when he was cast out Pharaoh's daughter took him up and nourished him for her own son and Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians in his words and works but when he was well nigh 40 years old it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel and seeing one of them suffer wrong he defended him and avenged him that was oppressed smiting the Egyptian and he supposed that his brethren understood that God by his hand was giving them deliverance but they understood not and the day following he appeared unto them as they strove and would have set them again saying sirs ye are brethren why do ye wrong one to another but he that did his neighbor wrong thrust him away saying who made thee a ruler and a judge over us what is thou kill me is thou killed the Egyptian yesterday and Moses fled at this saying and became a sojourner in the land of Midian where he begat two sons and when 40 years were fulfilled an angel appeared to him in the wilderness in a flame of fire in a bush and when Moses saw it he wondered at the sight and as he drew near to behold there came a voice of the Lord I am the God of thy fathers the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob and Moses trembled and durst not behold and the Lord said unto him loose the shoes from thy feet for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground I have surely seen the affliction of Egypt and have heard their groaning and I am come down to deliver them and now come I will send thee into Egypt this Moses whom they refused saying who made thee a ruler and a judge him hath God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer with the hand of the angel that appeared to him in the bush this man led them forth having wrought wonders and signs in Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the wilderness 40 years this is that Moses who said unto the children of Israel a prophet shall God raise up unto you from among your brethren like unto me this is he that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel that spake to him in the Mount Sinai and with our fathers who received living oracles to give unto us to whom our fathers would not be obedient but thrust him from them and turned back in their hearts unto Egypt saying unto Aaron make us gods that shall go before us for as for this Moses who led us forth out of the land of Egypt we know not what has become of him and they made a calf in those days and brought a sacrifice unto the idol and rejoiced in the works of their hands but God turned and gave them up to serve the host of heaven as it is written in the book of the prophets did ye offer unto me slain beasts and sacrifices 40 years in the wilderness oh house of Israel and ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of the God Raphan the figures which ye made to worship them and I will carry you away beyond Babylon our fathers had the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness even as he appointed who spake unto Moses that he should make it according to the figure that he had seen which also our fathers in their turn brought in with Joshua when they entered on the possession of the nations that God thrust out before the face of our fathers unto the days of David who found favor in the sight of God and asked to find a habitation for the God of Jacob but Solomon built him a house how be it the most high dwelleth not in houses made with hands as sayeth the prophet the heaven is my throne and the earth the footstool of my feet what manner of house will ye build me sayeth the Lord or what is the place of my rest did not my hand make all these things ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears ye do always resist the Holy Spirit as your fathers did so do ye which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute and they killed them that showed before of the coming of the righteous one of whom ye have now become betrayers and murderers ye who received the law as it was ordained by angels and kept it not now when they heard these things they were cut to the heart and they gnashed on him with their teeth 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 and said behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God but they cried out the loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed upon him with one accord and they cast him out of the city and stoned him and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul and he stoned Stephen calling upon the Lord and saying Lord, Jesus, receive my spirit and he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice Lord, lay not this sin to their charge and when he had said this he fell asleep End of chapter 7 Chapter 8 of Acts American Standard Version This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain and to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Sam Stinson by his faith.com Chapter 8 and Saul was consenting unto his death and there arose on that day a great persecution against the church which was in Jerusalem and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria except the apostles and devout men buried Stephen in a lamentation over him but Saul laid waste the church entering into every house and dragging men and women committed them to prison they therefore that were scattered abroad went about preaching the word and Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed unto them the Christ and the multitudes gave heed with one accord unto the things that were spoken by Philip when they heard and saw the signs which he did from many of those that had unclean spirits they came out crying with a loud voice and many that were palsied and that were lame were healed and there was much joy in that city but there was a certain man Simon by name who before time in the city used sorcery and amazed the people of Samaria giving out that himself was some great one to whom they all gave heed from the least to the greatest saying this man is that power of God which is called great and they gave heed to him because that of long time he had amazed them with his sorceries but when they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of God in the name of Jesus Christ they were baptized both men and women and Simon also himself believed and being baptized he continued with Philip and beholding signs and great miracles wrought he was amazed now when the apostles that were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God they sent unto them Peter and John who when they were come down prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit for as yet it was fallen upon none of them only they had been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus then laid they their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles hands the Holy Spirit was given he offered them money saying give me also this power that on whom so ever I lay my hands he may receive the Holy Spirit but Peter said unto him thy silver perish with thee because thou hast thought to obtain the gift of God with money thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter for thy heart is not right before God repent therefore of this thy wickedness and pray the Lord if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee for I see that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity and Simon answered and said pray ye for me to the Lord that none of the things which he have spoken come upon me they therefore when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord returned to Jerusalem and preached the Gospel to many villages of the Samaritans but an angel of the Lord spoke unto Philip saying arise and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza the same as desert and he arose and went and behold a man of Ethiopia a eunuch of great authority under Candice Queen of the Ethiopians who was over all her treasure in Jerusalem to worship and he was returning and sitting in his chariot and was reading the prophet Isaiah and the spirit said unto Philip go near and join thyself to this chariot and Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said understandest thou what thou readest and he said how can I except someone shall guide me and he besought Philip to come up with him now the passage of the scripture which he was reading was this he was led as a sheep to the slaughter and as a land before the shearer is dumb so he openeth not his mouth and his humiliation his judgment was taken away his generation who shall declare for his life is taken from the earth and the eunuch answered Philip and said I pray thee of whom speaketh the prophet this of himself before of some other and Philip opened his mouth and beginning from this scripture preached unto him Jesus and as they went on the way they came unto a certain water and the eunuch saith behold here is water what doth hinder me to be baptized and he commanded the chariot to stand still and they both went down into the water both Philip and the eunuch and he baptized him in the water the spirit of the Lord caught away Philip and the eunuch saw him no more for he went on his way rejoicing but Philip was found at azotus and passing through he preached the gospel to all the cities till he came to Caesarea End of chapter 8 Chapter 9 of Acts American Standard Version This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information and to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Sam Stinson by his faith.com Chapter 9 But Saul, yet breathing, threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord went unto the high priest and asked of him letters to Damascus unto the synagogues that if he found any that were of the way whether men or women he might bring them bound to Jerusalem and as he journeyed he drew nigh unto Damascus and suddenly there shone round about him a light out of heaven and he fell upon the earth and heard a voice saying unto him Saul, Saul why persecutist thou me and he said who art thou, Lord and he said I am Jesus whom thou persecutist but rise and enter into the city and it shall be told thee what thou must do and the men that journeyed with him stood speechless hearing the voice but beholding no man and Saul arose from the earth and when his eyes were opened he saw nothing and they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus and he was three days without sight and did neither eat nor drink now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias and the Lord said unto him in a vision Ananias and he said behold I am here Lord and the Lord said unto him arise and go to the street which is called straight and inquire in the house of Judas for one named Saul a man of Tarsus for behold he prayeth and he hath seen a man named Ananias coming in and laying his hands on him that he might receive his sight but Ananias answered Lord I have heard from many of this man how much evil he did to thy saints at Jerusalem and here he hath authority from the chief priest to bind all that call upon thy name but the Lord said unto him go thy way for he is a chosen vessel unto me to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel for I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name's sank and Ananias departed to the house and laying his hands on him said brother Saul the Lord even Jesus who appeared unto thee in the way which thou came hath sent me that thou mayest receive thy sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit and straight way there fell from his eyes as it were scales and he received his sight and he arose and was baptized and he took food and was strengthened and he was certain days with the disciples that were at Damascus and straight way in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus that he is the Son of God and all that heard him were amazed and said is not this he that in Jerusalem made havoc of them that called on this name and he had come hither for this intent that he might bring them bound before the chief priests but Saul increased the more in strength and confounded the Jews that dwelt at Damascus proving that this is the Christ and when many days were fulfilled the Jews took counsel together to kill him but their plot became known to Saul and they watched the gates also day and night that they might kill him but his disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall lowering him in a basket and when he was come to Jerusalem he has said to join himself to the disciples and they were all afraid of him not believing that he was a disciple but Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way and that he had spoken to him and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus and he was with them going in and going out at Jerusalem preaching boldly in the name of the Lord and he spake and disputed against the grecian Jews but they were seeking to kill him and when the brethren knew it they came down to Caesarea and sent him forth to Tarsus so the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace being edified and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit was multiplied and it came to pass as Peter went throughout all parts he came down also to the saints that dwelt at Lidda and there he found a certain man named Aeneas who had kept his bed eight years for he was and Peter said unto him Aeneas Jesus Christ healeth thee arise and make thy bed and straight way he arose and all that dwelt at Lidda and in Sharon saw him and they turned to the Lord now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha which by interpretation is called Dorcas this woman was full of good works and alms deeds which she did and it came to pass in those days that she fell sick and died and when they had washed her they laid her in an upper chamber and as Lidda was nigh unto Joppa the disciples hearing that Peter was there sent two men unto him and treating him delay not to come on unto us and Peter arose and went with them and when he was come they brought him into the upper chamber and all the widows stood by him weeping and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made while she was with them but Peter put them all forth and kneeled down and prayed and turning to the body he said Tabitha arise and she opened her eyes and when she saw Peter she sat up and he gave her his hand and raised her up and calling the saints in widows he presented her alive and it became known throughout all Joppa and many believed on the Lord and it came to pass that he abode many days in Joppa with one Simon a Tanner End of Chapter 9 Chapter 10 of Acts American Standard Version This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information and to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Sam Stinson by HisFaith.com Chapter 10 Now there was a certain man in Caesarea Cornelius by name of the band called the Italian Band a devout man and one that feared God with all his house who gave much alms to the people and prayed to God always he saw in a vision openly as it were about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in unto him and saying to him Cornelius and he fastening his eyes upon him and being affrighted said what is it Lord and he said unto him thy prayers and thine alms are gone up for a memorial before God and now send men to Joppa and fetch one Simon who is surnamed Peter he lodged with one Simon a Tanner whose house is by the seaside and when the angel that spake unto him was departed he called two of his household servants and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually and having rehearsed all things unto them he sent them to Joppa now on the morrow as they were on their journey and drew nigh into the city Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour and he became hungry and desired to eat but while they made ready he fell into a trance and he beholdeth the heaven opened in a certain vessel descending as it were a great sheet let down by four corners upon the earth wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts and creeping things of the earth and birds of the heaven and there came a voice to him, rise Peter kill and eat but Peter said not so Lord for I have never eaten anything that is common and unclean and a voice came unto him again the second time what God hath cleansed make not thou common and this was done thrice and straightway the vessel was received up into heaven now while Peter was much perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean behold the men that were sent by Cornelius having made inquiry for Simon's house stood before the gate and called and asked whether Simon who was surnamed Peter were lodging there and while Peter thought on the vision the spirit said unto him behold three men seek thee but arise and get thee down and go with them nothing doubting and they sent them and Peter went down to the men and said behold I am he whom ye seek what is the cause wherefore ye are come and they said Cornelius a centurion a righteous man and one that feareth God and well reported by all the nation of the Jews was warned of God by a holy angel to send for thee into his house and to hear words from thee so he called them in and lodged them and on the morrow he arose and went forth with them and a certain of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him and on the morrow they entered into Caesarea and Cornelius was waiting for them having called together his kinsmen and his near friends and when it came to pass that Peter entered Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him but Peter raised him up saying stand up I myself also and as he talked with him he went in and findeth many come together and he said unto them ye yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to join himself or come unto one of another nation and yet unto me hath God showed that I should not call any man common or unclean wherefore also I came without saying when I was sent for I asked therefore with what intent ye sent for me and Cornelius said four days ago until this hour I was keeping the ninth hour of prayer in my house and behold a man stood before me and bright apparel and saith Cornelius, thy prayer is heard and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God send therefore to Joppa and call unto thee Simon who is surname Peter he lodges in the house of Simon a tanner by the seaside forthwith therefore I sent to thee and thou hast well done that thou art come now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God to hear all things that have been commanded thee of the Lord and Peter opened his mouth and said of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons but in every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is acceptable to him the word which he sent unto the children of Israel preaching good tidings of peace by Jesus Christ he is Lord of all that saying ye yourselves know which was published throughout all Judea beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached even Jesus of Nazareth how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power who went about doing good in healing all that were oppressed of the devil for God was with him and we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem whom also they slew hanging him on a tree him God raised up the third day and gave him to be made manifest not to all the people but unto witnesses that were chosen before of God even to us who ate and drank with him after he arose from the dead and he charged us to preach unto the people and to testify that this is he who is ordained of God to be the judge of the living and the dead to him bear all the prophets witness that through his name everyone that believeth on him shall receive remission of sins while Peter yet spake these words the Holy Spirit fell on all them that heard the word and they of the circumcision that believed were amazed as many as came with Peter because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit for they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God then answered Peter can any man forbid the water that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we and he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ then prayed they him to tarry certain days end of chapter 10 chapter 11 of acts American standard version this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information and to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Sam Stinson by his faith.com chapter 11 now the apostles and the brethren that were in Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God and when Peter was come up to Jerusalem they that were of the circumcision contended with him saying thou wentest in to men uncircumcised and didst eat with them but Peter began and expounded the matter unto them in order saying I was in the city of Joppa praying and in a trance I saw a vision a certain vessel descending as it were a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners and it came even unto me upon which when I had fastened mine eyes I considered and saw the four footed beasts of the earth and wild beasts and creeping things and birds of the heaven and I heard also a voice saying unto me rise Peter kill and eat but I said not so Lord for nothing common or unclean hath ever entered into my mouth but a voice answered the second time out of heaven what God hath cleansed make not thou and this was done thrice and all were drawn up again into heaven and behold forthwith three men stood before the house in which we were having been sent from Caesarea unto me and the spirit bade me go with them making no distinction and these six brethren also accompanied me and we entered into the man's house and he told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying and as I began to speak the Holy Spirit fell on them even as on us at the beginning and I remembered the word of the Lord how he said John indeed baptized with water but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit if then God gave unto them the like gift as he did also unto us when we believe and as I began to speak the Holy Spirit fell on them also unto us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ who was I that I could withstand God and when they heard these things they held their peace and glorified God saying then to the Gentiles also hath God granted repentance unto life they therefore that were scattered abroad upon the tribulation that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch speaking the word and none save only two Jews but there were some of them men of Cyprus and Cyrene who when they were come to Antioch spake unto the Greeks also preaching the Lord Jesus and the hand of the Lord was with them and a great number that believed turned unto the Lord and the report concerning them came to the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem and they sent forth Barnabas as far as Antioch who when he was come had seen the grace of God was glad and he exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord for he was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith and much people was added unto the Lord and he went forth to Tarsus to seek for Saul and when he had found him he brought him unto Antioch and it came to pass that even for a whole year they were gathered together with the church and the people and that the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch now in these days there came down prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch and there stood up one of them named Agibus and signified by the Spirit that there should be a great famine over all the world which came to pass in the days of Claudius and the disciples every man according to his ability determined that dwelt in Judea which also they did sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul End of Chapter 11 Chapter 12 of Acts American Standard Version this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information and to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Sam Stinson by his faith.com Chapter 12 Now about that time Herod the king put forth his hands to afflict certain of the church and he killed James the brother of John with the sword and when he saw that it pleased the Jews he proceeded to seize Peter also and those were the days of unleavened bread and when he had taken him he put him in prison and delivered him to four quaternarians of soldiers to guard him and tending after the Passover to bring him forth to the people Peter therefore was kept in the prison but prayer was made earnestly of the church unto God for him and when Herod was about to bring him forth the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers bound with two chains and guards before the door kept the prison and behold an angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shined in the cell and he smote Peter on the side saying rise up quickly and his chains fell off from his hands and the angel said unto him gird thyself and bind on thysandles and he did so and he saith unto him cast thy garment about thee and follow me and he went out and followed and he knew not that it was true which was done by the angel but thought he saw a vision and when they were passed the first and the second guard the iron gate that leadeth into the city which opened to them of its own accord and they went out and passed on through one street and straightway the angel departed from him and when Peter was come to himself he said now I know of a truth that the Lord had sent forth his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews and when he had considered the thing he came to the house of Mary the mother of John whose surname was Mark where many were gathered together and were praying and when he knocked at the door of the gate a maid came to answer named Rhoda and when she knew Peter's voice she opened not the gate for joy but ran in and told that Peter stood before the gate and they said unto her thou art mad but she confidently affirmed that it was even so and they said it is his angel but Peter continued knocking and when they had opened they saw him and were amazed but he beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace declared unto them how the Lord had brought him forth out of the prison and he said tell these things unto James and to the brethren and he departed and went to another place now as soon as it was day there was no small stir among the soldiers what was become of Peter and when Herod had sought for him and found him not he examined the guards and commanded that they should be put to death and he went down from Judea to Caesarea and tarried there now he was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon and 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 from the king's country and upon a said day Herod sat on the throne and made an oration unto them and the people shouted saying the voice of a God and not of a man and immediately an angel of the Lord smote him because he gave not God the glory and he was eaten of worms and gave up the ghost but the word of God grew and multiplied and Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministration taking with them John whose surname was Mark End of Chapter 12 Chapter 13 of Acts, American Standard Version This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information and to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Sam Stinson by hisfaith.com Chapter 13 Now there were at Antioch in the church that was there prophets and teachers Barnabas and Simeon that was called Niger and Lucius of Cyrene and Manian the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch and Saul and as they ministered to the Lord and fasted the Holy Spirit said separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work where unto I have called them then when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them they sent them away so they being sent forth the Holy Spirit went down to Seleucia and from thence they sailed to Cyprus and when they were at Salamis they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews and they had also John as their attendant and when they had gone through the whole island unto Paphos they found a certain sorcerer a false prophet a Jew whose surname was Bar Jesus who was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus a man of understanding Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God with Elimus the sorcerer for so is his name by interpretation withstood them seeking to turn aside the proconsul from the faith but Saul who is also called Paul filled with the Holy Spirit fastened his eyes on him and said O full of all guile and all villainy thou son of the devil thou enemy of all righteousness thou not ceased to pervert the right ways O Lord and now behold the hand of the Lord is upon thee and thou shalt be blind not seeing the sun for a season and immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand then the proconsul when he saw what was done believed being astonished at the teaching of the Lord now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos and came to Perga and Pamphlia and John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem but they passing through from Perga came to Antioch of Pisidia and they went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down and after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them saying brethren if ye have any word of exhortation for the people say on and Paul stood up and beckoning with the hand and said men of Israel the God of this people Israel chose our fathers and exalted the people when they sojourned in the land of Egypt and with a high arm led he them forth out of it and for about the same time of 40 years as a nursing father bear he them in the wilderness and when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan in the land for an inheritance for about 450 years and after these things he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet and afterward they asked for a king and God gave unto them Saul the son of Kish a man of the tribe of Benjamin for the space of 40 years and when he had removed him he raised up David to be their king to whom also he bear witness and said a man after my heart who shall do all my will of this man's seed hath God according to promise brought unto Israel a savior Jesus when John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel and as John was fulfilling his course he said brethren children of the stock of Abraham and those among you that fear God to us is the word of this salvation sent forth for they that dwell in Jerusalem and their rulers because they knew him not nor the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath fulfilled them by condemning him and though they found no cause of death in him yet asked they of Pilate that he should be slain and when they had fulfilled all things that were written of him they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb but God raised him from the dead and he was seen for many days of them that came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem who are now his witnesses unto the people and we bring you good tidings of the promise made unto the fathers that God hath fulfilled the same unto our children as also it is written in the second Psalm thou art my son this day have I begotten thee and as concerning that he raised him up from the dead now no more to return to corruption he hath spoken on this wise I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David because he saith also in another Psalm thou wilt not give thy holy one to see corruption for David after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God fell asleep and was laid unto his fathers and saw corruption but he whom God raised up saw no corruption be it known unto you therefore brethren that through this man is proclaimed unto you remission of sins and by him everyone that believeth is justified from all things which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses beware therefore lest that come upon you which is spoken in the prophets behold ye despisers and wonder and perish for I work a work in your days a work which ye shall in no wise believe if one declare it unto you and as they went out they be sought that these words might be spoken to them the next Sabbath 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 and the next Sabbath almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of God but when the Jews saw the multitudes they were filled with jealousy and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul and blasphemed and Paul and Barnabas spake out boldly and said it was necessary that the word of God should first be spoken to you seeing ye thrust it from you and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life lo we turn to the Gentiles for so hath the Lord commanded us saying I have set thee for a light of the Gentiles that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the uttermost part of the earth and as the Gentiles heard this they were glad and glorified the word of God and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed and the word of the Lord was spread abroad throughout all the region but the Jews urged on the devout women of honorable estate and the chief men of the city and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas and cast them out of their borders but they shook off the dust of their feet against them and came unto Iconium and the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit chapter 13 chapter 14 of Acts this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information and to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Sam Stinson by hisfaith.com chapter 14 and it came to pass in Iconium that they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews and so spake the multitude both of Jews and of Greeks believed but the Jews that were disobedient stirred up the souls of the Gentiles and made them evil affected against the brethren long time therefore they tarried there speaking boldly in the Lord who bear witness unto the word of his grace granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands but the multitude of the city was divided and part held with the Jews and part with the apostles and when there was made an onset both of the Gentiles and of the Jews with their rulers to treat them shamefully and to stone them they became aware of it and fled unto the cities of Lyconia Lystra and Derby and the region round about and there they preached the gospel and at Lystra there sat a certain man impotent in his feet a cripple from his mother's womb who never had walked the same heard Paul speaking and fastening his eyes upon him and seeing that he had faith to be made whole said with a loud voice stand upright on thy feet and he leaped up and walked and when the multitude saw what Paul had done they lifted up their voices saying in the speech of Lyconia the gods are come down to us in the likeness of men and they called Barnabas Jupiter and Paul Mercury the chief speaker and the priest of Jupiter whose temple was before the city brought oxen and garlands unto the gates and would have done sacrifice with the multitudes but when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it they rent their garments and sprang forth among the multitude crying out and saying sirs why do ye these things we also are men of like passions with you and bring you good tidings from these vain things unto a living God who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that in them is who in the generations gone by suffered all the nations to walk in their own ways and yet he left not himself without witness and that he did good and gave you from heaven reigns and fruitful seasons filling your hearts with food and gladness and with these things scarce the multitudes from doing sacrifice unto them but there came Jews thither from Antioch and Iconium and having persuaded the multitudes they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city supposing that he was dead but as the disciples stood round about him he rose up and entered into the city and on the moral he went forth with Barnabas to Derby and when they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch confirming the souls of the disciples exhorting them to continue in the faith and that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God and when they had appointed for them elders in every church and had prayed with fasting they commended them to the Lord on whom they had believed and they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphlia and when they had spoken the word in Perga they went down to Atalia and thence they sailed to Antioch from whence they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled and when they were come and had gathered the church together they rehearsed all things that God had done with them and that he had opened a door of faith unto the Gentiles and they tarried no little time with the disciples chapter 14 chapter 15 of Acts, American Standard Version this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information and to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Sam Stinson by his faith.com chapter 15 and certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren saying except ye be circumcised after the custom of Moses ye cannot be saved and when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension in questioning with them the brethren appointed that Paul and Barnabas and certain other of them should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question they therefore being brought on their way passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria declaring the conversion of the Gentiles and they caused great joy unto all the brethren and when they were come to Jerusalem they were received of the church and the apostles and the elders and they rehearsed all things that God had done with them but there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed saying it is needful to circumcise them and to charge them to keep the law of Moses and the apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider of this matter and when there had been much questioning Peter rose up and said unto them brethren ye know that a good while ago God made choice among you that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe and God who knoweth the heart bear them witness giving them the Holy Spirit even as he did unto us and he made no distinction between us and them cleansing their hearts by faith now therefore why make ye trial of God that ye should put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear but we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in like manner as they and all the multitude kept silence and they hearkened unto us and Paul rehearsing what signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles through them and after they had held their peace James answered saying brethren hearkened unto me Simeon hath rehearsed how first God visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for his name and to this agree the words of the prophets as it is written after these things I will return and I will build again the tabernacle of David which is fallen and I will build again the ruins thereof and I will set it up that the residue of men may seek after the Lord and all the Gentiles upon whom my name is called sayeth the Lord who maketh these things known from of old wherefore my judgment is that we trouble not them that from among the Gentiles turn to God but that we write unto them that they abstain from the pollutions of idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood for Moses from generations of old hath in every city them that preach him being read in the synagogues every Sabbath then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders with the whole church to choose men out of their company and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas namely Judas called Bar Sabbath and Silas chief men among the brethren and they wrote thus by them the apostles and the elders brethren unto the brethren who are of the Gentiles and Antioch and Syria and Silicia greeting for as much as we have heard that certain who went out from us have troubled you with words subverting your souls to whom we gave no commandment it seemed good unto us having come to one accord to choose out men and send them unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul meant that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ we have sent therefore Judas and Silas who themselves also shall tell you the same things by word of mouth for it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things that ye abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things sold and from fornication from which if ye keep yourselves it shall be well with you very well so they when they were dismissed came down to Antioch and having gathered the multitude together they delivered the epistle and when they had read it they rejoiced for the consolation and Judas and Silas being themselves also prophets exhorted the brethren with many words and confirmed them and after they had spent some time there they were dismissed in peace from the brethren to those that had sent them forth but Paul and Barnabas tarried in Antioch teaching and preaching the word of the Lord with many others also and after some days Paul said unto Barnabas let us return now and visit the brethren in every city wherein we proclaim the word of the Lord and see how they fare and Barnabas was minded to take with them John also who was called Mark but Paul thought not good to take with them him who withdrew from them from Pamphlia and went not with them to the work and there arose a sharp contention so that they parted asunder one from the other and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away unto Cyprus but Paul chose Silas and went forth being commended by the brethren to the grace of the Lord and he went through Syria and Cilicia confirming the churches and of Chapter 15 Chapter 16 of Acts American Standard Version this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information and to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Sam Stinson by his faith.com Chapter 16 and he came also to Derby and to Lystra and behold the son of a Jewish that believed but his father was a Greek the same as well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium him would Paul have to go forth with him and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews that were in those parts for they all knew that his father was a Greek and as they went on their way through the cities they delivered them the decrees to keep which had been ordained of the apostles and elders that were at Jerusalem so the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in numbers daily and they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia having been forbidden of the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia and when they were come over against Mycia they assayed to go into Bithnia and the spirit of Jesus suffered them not and passing by Mycia they came down to Troas and a vision appeared to Paul in the night there was a man of Macedonia standing beseeching him and saying come over into Macedonia and help us and when he had seen the vision straight way we sought to go forth into Macedonia concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel unto them setting sail therefore from Troas we made a straight course to Samothrace and the day following to Neapolis and from thence Philippi which is a city of Macedonia the first of the district a Roman colony and we were in this city tearing certain days and on the Sabbath day we went forth without the gate by a riverside where we suppose there was a place of prayer and we sat down and spake unto the women that were come together and a certain woman named Lydia a cellar of purple of the city of Thyatira one that worshiped God whose heart the Lord opened to give heed unto the things which were spoken by Paul and when she was baptized and her household she besought us saying if ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord come into my house and abide there and she constrained us and it came to pass as we were going to the place of prayer that a certain maid having a spirit of divination met us who brought her masters much gain by sooth saying the same following after Paul and us cried out saying these men are servants of the most high God who proclaim unto you the way of salvation in this she did for many days but Paul being sore troubled turned and said to the spirit I charge thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her and it came out that very hour but when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone they laid hold of Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers and when they had brought them unto the magistrates they said these men being Jews do exceedingly trouble our city and set forth customs which it is not lawful for us to receive or to observe being Romans and the multitude rose up together against them and the magistrates rent their garments off them and commanded to beat them with rods and when they had laid many stripes upon them they cast them into prison charging the jailer to keep them safely who having received such a charge cast them into the inner prison and made their feet fast in the stocks but about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns unto God and the prisoners were listening to them and suddenly there was a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken and immediately the doors were opened and everyone's bands were loosed and the jailer being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open drew his sword and was about to kill himself supposing that the prisoners had escaped but Paul cried with a loud voice saying do thyself no harm for we are all here and he called for lights and sprang in and trembling for fear fell down before Paul and Silas and brought them out and said sirs what must I do to be saved and they said believe on the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved thou and thy house and they spake the word of the Lord unto him with all that were in his house and he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes and was baptized he and all his immediately and he brought them up into his house and set food before them and rejoiced greatly with all his house having believed in God but when it was day the magistrates sent the sergeants saying let those men go and the jailer reported the words to Paul saying the magistrates have sent to let you go now therefore come forth and go in peace but Paul said unto them they have beaten us publicly uncondemned men that are Romans and have cast us into prison and now cast us out privately nay verily but let them come themselves and bring us out and the sergeants reported these words unto the magistrates and they feared when they heard that they were Romans and they came and besought them and when they had brought them out they asked them to go away from the city and they went out of the prison and entered into the house of Lydia and when they had seen the brethren they comforted them and started end of chapter 16 chapter 17 of Acts American Standard Version this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information and to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Sam Stinson by hisfaith.com chapter 17 now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia they came to Thessalonica where was a synagogue of the Jews and Paul as his custom was went in unto them and for three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the scriptures opening and alleging that it behooved the Christ to suffer and to rise again from the dead and that this Jesus whom said he I proclaim unto you is the Christ and some of them were persuaded and consorted with Paul in Silas and of the devout Greeks and of the chief women not a few but the Jews being moved with jealousy took unto them certain vile fellows of the rabble and gathering a crowd set the city on an uproar and assaulting the house of Jason they sought to bring them forth to the people and when they found them not they dragged Jason and certain brethren before the rulers of the city crying these that have turned the world upside down are come hither also Jason hath received and these all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar saying that there is another king one Jesus and they troubled the multitude and the rulers of the city when they heard these things and when they had taken security from Jason and the rest they let them go and the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea who when they were come thither went into the synagogue and the Jews now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica and that they received the word with all readiness of mind examining the scriptures daily whether these things were so many of them therefore believed also of the Greek women of honorable estate and of men not a few but when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was proclaimed of Paul at Berea also they came thither likewise they were troubling the multitudes and then immediately the brethren sent forth Paul to go as far as to the sea and Silas and Timothy abode there still but they that conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timothy that they should come to him with all speed they departed now while Paul waited for them at Athens his spirit was provoked within him as he beheld the city full of idols so he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons and in the marketplace every day with them that met him and certain also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him and some said what would this babbler say others he seemed to be a setter fourth of strange gods because he preached Jesus and the resurrection and they took hold of him and brought him unto the Areopagus saying now all the Athenians and the strangers so journeying there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing and Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said I found also an altar with this inscription to an unknown God what therefore ye worship in ignorance this I set forth unto you the God that made the world in all things therein he being Lord of heaven and earth dwelleth not in temples made with hands neither is he served by men's hands as though he needed anything seeing he himself giveth to all life and breath and all things and he made of one every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth having determined their appointed seasons and the bounds of their habitation that they should seek God if happily they might feel after him and find him though he is not far from each one of us for in him we live and move and have our being as certain even of your own poets have said for we are also his offspring being then the offspring of God we ought not to think that the God head is like unto gold or silver or stone graven by art and device of man the times of ignorance therefore God overlooked but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent in as much as he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he hath ordained for he hath given assurance unto all men and that he hath raised him from the dead now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead some mocked but others said we will hear thee concerning this yet again thus Paul went out from among them but certain men clave unto him and believed among whom also was Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Amaris and others with them chapter 17 chapter 18 of Acts American Standard Version this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information and to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Sam Stinson by his faith.com chapter 18 after these things he departed from Athens and came to Corinth with a new named Aquila a man of Pontus by race lately come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome and he came unto them and because he was of the same trade he abode with them and they wrought for by their trade they were tent makers and he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and persuaded Jews and Greeks but when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia Paul was constrained by the word testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ and when they opposed themselves and blasphemed he shook out his raiment and said unto them your blood be upon your own heads I am clean from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles and he departed thence and went into the house of a certain man named Titus Justice one that worshiped God whose house joined hard to the synagogue and Christmas the ruler of the synagogue believed in the Lord with all his house and many of the Corinthians hearing believed and were baptized and the Lord said unto Paul in the night by a vision be not afraid but speak and hold not thy peace for I am with thee and no man shall set on thee to harm thee for I have much people in this city we dwelt there a year and six months teaching the word of God among them but when Galio was proconsul of Akia the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat saying this man persuaded men to worship God contrary to the law but when Paul was about to open his mouth Galio said unto the Jews if indeed it were a matter of wrong or of wicked villainy oh ye Jews reason would that I should bear with you but if they are questions about words and names and your own law look to it yourselves I am not minded to be a judge of these matters and he drove them from the judgment seat and they all laid hold of Sassanese the ruler of the synagogue and beat him before the judgment seat and Galio cared for none of these things and Paul having tarried after this yet many days took his leave of the brethren and sailed thence for Syria and with him Priscilla and Aquila having shorn his head at Sencria for he had a vow and they came to Ephesus and he left them there but he himself entered into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews and when they asked him to abide a longer time he consented not but taking his leave of them and saying I will return again unto you he set sail from Ephesus and when he had landed at Caesarea he went up and saluted the church and went down to Antioch and having spent some time there he departed and went through the region of Galatia and Phrygia in order establishing all the disciples now a certain Jew named Apollos an Alexandrian by race an eloquent man came to Ephesus and he was mighty in the Scriptures this man had been instructed in the way of the Lord and being fervent in spirit he spake and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus knowing only the baptism of John and he began to speak boldly in the synagogue but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him they took him unto them and expounded unto him the way of God more accurately and when he was minded to pass over into Achaea the brethren encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to receive him he helped them much that had believed through grace for he powerfully confuted the Jews and that publicly showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ End of Chapter 18 Chapter 19 of Acts American Standard Version This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information and to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org and it came to pass that while Apollos was at Corinth Paul having passed through the upper country came to Ephesus and found certain disciples and he said unto them did ye receive the Holy Spirit when ye believed and they said unto him nay we did not so much as hear whether the Holy Spirit was given and he said unto what then were ye baptized and they said unto John's baptism and Paul said John baptized with the baptism of repentance saying unto the people that they should believe on him that should come after him that is on Jesus and when they heard this they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus and when Paul had laid his hands upon them the Holy Spirit came on them and they spake with tongues and prophesied and they were in all about twelve men and he entered into the synagogue and spake boldly for the space of three months reasoning and persuading as to the things concerning the kingdom of God but when some were hardened and disobedient speaking evil of the way before the multitude he departed from them and separated the disciples reasoning daily in the school of tyrannous and this continued for the space of two years so that all they that dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord both Jews and Greeks and God brought special miracles by the hands of Paul in so much that unto the sick were carried away from his body handkerchiefs or aprons and the diseases departed from them and the evil spirits went out but certain also of the strolling Jews exorcists took upon them to name over them that had the evil spirits the Lord Jesus saying I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches and there were seven sons of one Sceva a Jew a chief priest who did this and the evil spirit answered and said unto them Jesus I know and Paul I know but who are ye and the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them and mastered both of them and prevailed against them so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded and this became known to all both Jews and Greeks that dwelt at Ephesus and fear fell upon them all and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified many also of them that had believed came confessing and declaring their deeds and not a few of them that practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all and they counted the price of them thousand pieces of silver so mightily grew the word of the Lord and prevailed now after these things were ended Paul purposed in the spirit when he had passed through Macedonia and Ikea to go to Jerusalem saying after I have been there I must also see Rome and having sent into Macedonia two of them administered unto him Timothy and Erastus he himself stayed in Asia for a while and at that time there arose no small stir concerning the way for a certain man named Demetrius a silversmith who made silver shrines of Diana brought no little business unto the craftsmen whom he gathered together with the workmen of like occupation and said sirs you know that by this business we have our wealths and you see in here that not alone at Ephesus but almost throughout all Asia this Paul and turned away much people saying that they are no gods that are made with hands and not only is there danger that this our trade come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana be made of no account and that she should even be deposed from her magnificence whom all Asia and the world worshiped and when they heard this they were filled with wrath and cried out saying great is Diana of the Ephesians and the city was filled with the confusion and they rushed with one accord into the theater having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia Paul's companions in travel and when Paul was minded to enter in unto the people the disciples suffered him not and certain also of the Asiarchs being his friends sent unto him and besought him not to adventure himself into the theater some therefore cried one thing and some another for the assembly was in confusion and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together and they brought Alexander out of the multitude the Jews putting him forward and Alexander beckoned with the hand and would have made a defense unto the people but when they perceived that he was a Jew all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out great is Diana of the Ephesians and when the town clerk had quieted the multitude he saith ye men of Ephesus what man is there who knoweth not that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Diana and of the image which fell down from Jupiter seeing then that these things cannot be gained said ye ought to be quiet and to do nothing rash for ye have brought hither these men who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess if therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen that are with him have a matter against any man the courts are open and there are pro-consoles let them accuse one another but if ye seek anything about other matters it shall be settled in the regular assembly for indeed we are in danger to be accused concerning this day's riot there being no cause for it and as touching it we shall not be able to give account of this concourse and when he had thus spoken he dismissed the assembly and of chapter 19 and after the uproar ceased Paul having sent for the disciples and exhorted them took leave of them and departed to go into Macedonia and when he had gone through those parts and had given them much exhortation he came into Greece and when he had spent three months there and a plot was laid against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria he determined to return through Macedonia and there accompanied him as far as Asia so patterned of Berea the son of Pyrrhus and of the Thessalonians Saccundus and Gaius of Derby and Timothy and of Asia Tychicus and Trothamus but these had gone before and were waiting for us at Troas and we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread and came unto them two Troas in five days where we tarried seven days and upon the first day of the week when we were gathered together to break bread Paul discoursed with them intending to depart on the morrow and prolonged his speech until midnight and there were many lights in the upper chamber where we were gathered together and there sat in the window a certain young man named Uticus born down with deep sleep and as Paul discoursed yet longer being born down by his sleep he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead and Paul went down and fell on him and embracing him said Godo for his life is in him and when he was gone up and had broken the bread and eaten and had talked with them a long while even till break of day so he departed and they brought the lad alive and were not a little comforted but we going before to the ship set sail for Assels there intending to take in Paul for so had he appointed intending himself to go by land and when he met us at Assels we took him in and came to Mid-Yelene and sailing from thence we came the following day over against Kios and the next day we touched at Samos and the day after we came to Miletus for Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus that he might not have to spend time in Asia for he was hastening if it were possible for him to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost and from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church and when they were come to him he said unto them ye yourselves know from the first day that I set foot in Asia after what manner I was with you all the time serving the Lord with all lowliness of mind and with tears and with trials which befell me by the plots of the Jews how I shrank not from declaring unto you anything that was profitable in teaching you publicly and from house to house testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ and now behold I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem not knowing the things that shall befall me there save that the Holy Spirit testifies unto me in every city saying that bonds and afflictions abide me but I hold not my life of any account and dear unto myself so that I may accomplish my course and the ministry which I receive from the Lord Jesus to testify the gospel of the grace of God and now behold I know that ye all among whom I went about preaching the kingdom shall see my face no more wherefore I testify unto you this day that I am pure from the blood of all men for I shrank not from declaring unto you the counsel of God take heed unto yourselves and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you not sparing the flock and from among your own cells shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw away the disciples after them wherefore watch ye remembering that by the space of three years I cease not to admonish every one night and day with tears and now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all of them that are sanctified I coveted no man's silver or gold or apparel ye yourselves know that these hands ministered unto my necessities and to them that were with me in all things I gave you an example that so laboring, ye ought to help the weak and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus that he himself said it is more blessed to give than to receive and when he had thus spoken he kneeled down and prayed with them all and they all wept sore and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him sorrowing most of all for the word which he had spoken that they should behold his face no more