Act 9-11, Act 26 | ESV | STEP | But Saul , still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord , went to the high priest

1 But Saul, ^astill ^bbreathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to ^cthe high priest 2 and asked him for letters ^dto the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to ^ethe Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 ^fNow as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting ^gme?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, ^hwhom you are persecuting. 6 But ⁱrise and enter the city, and you will be told ^jwhat you are to do.” 7 ^kThe men who were traveling with him stood speechless, ^lhearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, ^mhe saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named ⁿAnanias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, ^o“Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man ^pof Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and ^qlay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, ^rhow much evil he has done to ^syour ^tsaints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from ^uthe chief priests to bind all who ^vcall on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for ^whe is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name ^xbefore the Gentiles and ^ykings and the children of Israel. 16 For ^zI will show him how much ^aahe must suffer ^abfor the sake of my name.” 17 So ^acAnanias departed and entered the house. And ^adlaying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and ^aebe filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and ^afhe regained his sight. Then ^aghe rose and was baptized; 19 and ^ahtaking food, he was strengthened.

Saul Proclaims Jesus in Synagogues

For ^aisome days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, ^aj“He is the Son of God.” 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who ^akmade havoc ^alin Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul ^amincreased all the more in strength, and ^anconfounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving ^aothat Jesus was the Christ.

Saul Escapes from Damascus

23 ^apWhen many days had passed, the Jews ^{▼▼The Greek word Ioudaioi refers specifically here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, who opposed the Christian faith in that time} plotted to kill him, 24 but their ^arplot became known to Saul. ^asThey were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and ^atlet him down through an opening in the wall, ^{▼▼Greek through the wall} lowering him in a basket.

Saul in Jerusalem

26 And ^avwhen he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But ^awBarnabas took him and ^axbrought him to the apostles and declared to them ^ayhow on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and ^azhow at Damascus he had ^bapreached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he went ^bbin and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he spoke and disputed against ^bcthe Hellenists. ^{▼▼That is, Greek-speaking Jews} But ^bethey were seeking to kill him. 30 And when ^bfthe brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off ^bgto Tarsus.

31 So ^bhthe church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And ^biwalking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, ^bjit multiplied.

The Healing of Aeneas

32 Now ^bkas Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. 34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, ^blJesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. 35 ^bmAnd all the residents of Lydda and ^bnSharon saw him, and ^bothey turned to the Lord.

Dorcas Restored to Life

36 Now there was in ^bpJoppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. ^{▼▼The Aramaic name Tabitha and the Greek name Dorcas both mean gazelle} She was full of ^brgood works and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in ^bsan upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, ^bt“Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to ^buthe upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics ^{▼▼Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin} and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. 40 But Peter ^bwput them all outside, and ^bxknelt down and prayed; and turning to the body ^byhe said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and ^bzmany believed in the Lord. 43 And he stayed in Joppa for many days ^cawith one Simon, a tanner.

Acts 10

Peter and Cornelius

1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of ^cbwhat was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man ^ccwho feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 ^cdAbout the ninth hour of the day ^{▼▼That is, 3 p.m.} ^cfhe saw clearly in a vision ^cgan angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms ^chhave ascended ^cias a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is lodging ^cjwith one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, 8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Peter’s Vision

9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, ^ckPeter went up ^clon the housetop about ^cmthe sixth hour ^{▼▼That is, noon} to pray. 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into ^coa trance 11 and saw ^cpthe heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; ^cqfor I have never eaten anything that is ^crcommon or ^csunclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, ^ct“What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what ^cuthe vision that he had seen might mean, behold, ^cvthe men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate 18 and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. 19 And while Peter was pondering ^cwthe vision, ^cxthe Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 Rise and go down and ^cyaccompany them without hesitation, ^{▼▼Or accompany them, making no distinction} for I have sent them.” 21 And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” 22 And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and ^daGod-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by ^dba holy angel to send for you to come to his house and ^dcto hear what you have to say.” 23 So he invited them in to be his guests.

The next day he rose and went away with them, and ^ddsome of ^dethe brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and ^dffell down at his feet and ^dgworshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, ^dh“Stand up; I too am a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew ^dito associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but ^djGod has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”

30 And Cornelius said, ^dk“Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at ^dlthe ninth hour, ^{▼▼That is, 3 p.m.} and behold, ^dna man stood before me in bright clothing 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, ^doyour prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

Gentiles Hear the Good News

34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that ^dpGod ^dqshows no partiality, 35 but ^drin every nation anyone who fears him and ^dsdoes what is right is acceptable to him. 36 As for ^dtthe word that he sent to Israel, ^dupreaching good news of ^dvpeace through Jesus Christ ( ^dwhe is Lord of all), 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, ^dxbeginning ^dyfrom Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how ^dzGod anointed Jesus of Nazareth ^eawith the Holy Spirit and with ^ebpower. He went about doing good and healing all ^ecwho were oppressed by the devil, ^edfor God was with him. 39 And ^eewe are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. ^efThey put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but ^egGod raised him on ^ehthe third day and made him to ^eiappear, 41 ^ejnot to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as ^ekwitnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And ^elhe commanded us to preach to the people and to testify ^emthat he is the one appointed by God to be judge ^enof the living and the dead. 43 ^eoTo him ^epall the prophets bear witness that ^eqeveryone who believes in him receives ^erforgiveness of sins ^esthrough his name.”

The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles

44 While Peter was still saying these things, ^etthe Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among ^euthe circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because ^evthe gift of the Holy Spirit ^ewwas poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them ^exspeaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 ^ey“Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit ^ezjust as we have?” 48 And he ^facommanded them ^fbto be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

Acts 11

Peter Reports to the Church

1 Now the apostles and ^fcthe brothers ^{▼▼Or brothers and sisters} who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, ^fethe circumcision party ^{▼▼Or Jerusalem, those of the circumcision} criticized him, saying, 3 ^fg“You went to uncircumcised men and ^fhate with them.” 4 But Peter began and explained it to them in order: 5 ^fi“I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me. 6 Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ 8 But I said, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’ 10 This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven. 11 And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea. 12 And the Spirit told me to go with them, ^fjmaking no distinction. ^fkThese six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; 14 ^flhe will declare to you a message by which ^fmyou will be saved, you and all your household.’ 15 As I began to speak, ^fnthe Holy Spirit fell on them ^fojust as on us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ^fp‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If then ^fqGod gave ^frthe same gift to them as he gave to us ^fswhen we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, ^ftwho was I ^futhat I could stand in God’s way?” 18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they ^fvglorified God, saying, ^fw“Then to the Gentiles also God has ^fxgranted ^fyrepentance that leads to life.”

The Church in Antioch

19 ^fzNow those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists ^{▼▼Or Greeks (that is, Greek-speaking non-Jews)} also, ^gbpreaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And ^gcthe hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed ^gdturned to the Lord. 22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw ^gethe grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord ^gfwith steadfast purpose, 24 for he was a good man, ^ggfull of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people ^ghwere added to the Lord. 25 So Barnabas went to ^giTarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called ^gjChristians.

27 Now in these days ^gkprophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 And one of them named ^glAgabus stood up and foretold ^gmby the Spirit that there would be a great ^gnfamine over all the world (this took place in the days of ^goClaudius). 29 So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, ^gpto send relief to ^gqthe brothers ^{▼▼Or brothers and sisters} living in Judea. 30 ^gsAnd they did so, sending it to ^gtthe elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

Acts 26

Paul’s Defense Before Agrippa

1 So ^guAgrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense:

2 “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today ^gvagainst all the accusations of the Jews, 3 especially because you are familiar with all the ^gwcustoms and ^gxcontroversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.

4 ^gy“My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among ^gzmy own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. 5 They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that ^haaccording to the strictest ^hbparty of our ^hcreligion I have lived as ^hda Pharisee. 6 And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in ^hethe promise made by God to our fathers, 7 ^hfto which ^hgour twelve tribes hope to ^hhattain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope ^hiI am accused by Jews, O king! 8 Why is it thought ^hjincredible by any of you that God raises the dead?

9 ^hk“I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of ^hlJesus of Nazareth. 10 ^hmAnd I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority ^hnfrom the chief priests, but ^howhen they were put to death I cast my vote against them. 11 And ^hpI punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them ^hqblaspheme, and ^hrin raging fury against them I ^hspersecuted them even to foreign cities.

Paul Tells of His Conversion

12 “In this connection ^htI journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me ^huin the Hebrew language, ^{▼▼Or the Hebrew dialect (probably Aramaic)} ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and ^hwstand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, ^hxto appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17 ^hydelivering you from your people and from the Gentiles— ^hzto whom I ^iaam sending you 18 ^ibto open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from ^icthe power of Satan to God, that they may receive ^idforgiveness of sins and ^iea place among those who are sanctified ^ifby faith in me.’

19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to ^igthe heavenly vision, 20 but declared first ^ihto those in Damascus, ⁱⁱthen in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also ^ijto the Gentiles, that they should ^ikrepent and ^ilturn to God, performing deeds ^imin keeping with their repentance. 21 For this reason ⁱⁿthe Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 ^ioTo this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so ^ipI stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what ^iqthe prophets and Moses said would come to pass: 23 ^irthat the Christ ^ismust suffer and that, ^itby being the first ^iuto rise from the dead, ^ivhe would proclaim ^iwlight both to our people and to the Gentiles.”

24 And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, ^ixyou are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” 25 But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, ^iymost excellent Festus, but I am speaking ^iztrue and ^jarational words. 26 For ^jbthe king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” 28 And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be ^jca Christian?” ^{▼▼Or In a short time you would persuade me to act like a Christian!} 29 And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day ^jemight become such as I am—except for ^jfthese chains.”

30 Then the king rose, and ^jgthe governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them. 31 And when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, ^jh“This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.” 32 And Agrippa said to Festus, ^ji“This man could have been set ^jjfree if he had not appealed ^jkto Caesar.”