Chapter 4

44:013:025 And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.

44:013:026 Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.

44:013:027 For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.

44:013:028 And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain.

44:013:029 And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.

44:013:030 But God raised him from the dead:

44:013:031 And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.

44:013:032 And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,

44:013:033 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

44:013:034 And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.

44:013:035 Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

44:013:036 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:

44:013:037 But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.

44:013:038 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

44:013:039 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

44:013:040 Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;

44:013:041 Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

44:013:042 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.

44:013:043 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

44:013:044 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

44:013:045 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

44:013:046 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

44:013:047 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

44:013:048 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

44:013:049 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.

44:013:050 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.

44:013:051 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.

44:013:052 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

44:014:001 And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.

44:014:002 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.

44:014:003 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

44:014:004 But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.

44:014:005 And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,

44:014:006 They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:

44:014:007 And there they preached the gospel.

44:014:008 And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:

44:014:009 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,

44:014:010 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

44:014:011 And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.

44:014:012 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.

44:014:013 Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.

44:014:014 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,

44:014:015 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

44:014:016 Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.

44:014:017 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

44:014:018 And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.

44:014:019 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.

44:014:020 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

44:014:021 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,

44:014:022 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

44:014:023 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

44:014:024 And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.

44:014:025 And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia:

44:014:026 And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.

44:014:027 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

44:014:028 And there they abode long time with the disciples.

44:015:001 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

44:015:002 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

44:015:003 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

44:015:004 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.

44:015:005 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

44:015:006 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

44:015:007 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

44:015:008 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

44:015:009 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

44:015:010 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

44:015:011 But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

44:015:012 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

44:015:013 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:

44:015:014 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

44:015:015 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

44:015:016 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

44:015:017 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

44:015:018 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

44:015:019 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

44:015:020 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

44:015:021 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

44:015:022 Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

44:015:023 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.

44:015:024 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

44:015:025 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

44:015:026 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

44:015:027 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

44:015:028 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

44:015:029 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

44:015:030 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:

44:015:031 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

44:015:032 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.

44:015:033 And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.

44:015:034 Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.

44:015:035 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

44:015:036 And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the LORD, and see how they do.

44:015:037 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.

44:015:038 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

44:015:039 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

44:015:040 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.

44:015:041 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

44:016:001 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:

44:016:002 Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.

44:016:003 Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.

44:016:004 And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.

44:016:005 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

44:016:006 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,

44:016:007 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

44:016:008 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.

44:016:009 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.

44:016:010 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

44:016:011 Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;

44:016:012 And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.

44:016:013 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.

44:016:014 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

44:016:015 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.

44:016:016 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:

44:016:017 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

44:016:018 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

44:016:019 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,

44:016:020 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,

44:016:021 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.

44:016:022 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.

44:016:023 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

44:016:024 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

44:016:025 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

44:016:026 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

44:016:027 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

44:016:028 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

44:016:029 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,

44:016:030 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

44:016:031 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

44:016:032 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

44:016:033 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

44:016:034 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

44:016:035 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.

44:016:036 And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.

44:016:037 But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.

44:016:038 And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.

44:016:039 And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.

44:016:040 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 departed.

44:017:001 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:

44:017:002 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

44:017:003 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.

44:017:004 And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.

44:017:005 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

44:017:006 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;

44:017:007 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.

44:017:008 And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.

44:017:009 And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.

44:017:010 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

44:017:011 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

44:017:012 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

44:017:013 But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.

44:017:014 And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.

44:017:015 And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.

44:017:016 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.

44:017:017 Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.