Chapter 4

013:029 and when they had carried out everything which had been written about Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb.

013:030 "But God raised Him from the dead.

013:031 And, after a few days, He appeared to the people who had gone up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem and are now witnesses concerning Him to the Jews.

013:032 And we bring you the Good News about the promise made to our forefathers,

013:033 that God has amply fulfilled it to our children in raising up Jesus; as it is also written in the second Psalm, `Thou art My Son: to-day I have become Thy Father.'

013:034 And as to His having raised Him from among the dead, never again to be in the position of one soon to return to decay, He speaks thus: `I will give you the holy and trustworthy promises made to David.'

013:035 Because in another Psalm also He says, `Thou wilt not give up Thy Holy One to undergo decay.'

013:036 For David, after having been useful to his own generation in accordance with God's purpose, did fall asleep, was gathered to his forefathers, and did undergo decay.

013:037 But He whom God raised to life underwent no decay.

013:038 "Understand therefore, brethren, that through this Jesus forgiveness of sins is announced to you;

013:039 and in Him every believer is absolved from all offences, from which you could not be absolved under the Law of Moses.

013:040 Beware, then, lest what is spoken in the Prophets should come true of you:

013:041 `Behold, you despisers, be astonished and perish, because I am carrying on a work in your time--a work which you will utterly refuse to believe, though it be fully declared to you.'"

013:042 As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people earnestly begged to have all this repeated to them on the following Sabbath.

013:043 And, when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and of the devout converts from heathenism continued with Paul and Barnabas, who talked to them and urged them to hold fast to the grace of God.

013:044 On the next Sabbath almost the whole population of the city came together to hear the Lord's Message.

013:045 Seeing the crowds, the Jews, filled with angry jealousy, opposed Paul's statements and abused him.

013:046 Then, throwing off all reserve, Paul and Barnabas said, "We were bound to proclaim God's Message to you first. But since you spurn it and judge yourselves to be unworthy of the Life of the Ages--well, we turn to the Gentiles.

013:047 For such is the Lord's command to us. "`I have placed Thee,' He says of Christ, `as a light to the Gentiles, in order that Thou mayest be a Saviour as far as the remotest parts of the earth.'"

013:048 The Gentiles listened with delight and extolled the Lord's Message; and all who were pre-destined to the Life of the Ages believed.

013:049 So the Lord's Message spread through the whole district.

013:050 But the Jews influenced the gentlewomen of rank who worshipped with them, and also the leading men in the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of the district.

013:051 But they shook off the dust from their feet as a protest against them and came to Iconium;

013:052 and as for the disciples, they were more and more filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

014:001 At Iconium the Apostles went together to the Jewish synagogue and preached, with the result that a great number both of Jews and Greeks believed.

014:002 But the Jews who had refused obedience stirred up the Gentiles and embittered their minds against the brethren.

014:003 Yet Paul and Barnabas remained there for a considerable time, speaking freely and relying on the Lord, while He bore witness to the Message of His grace by permitting signs and marvels to be done by them.

014:004 At length the people of the city split into parties, some siding with the Jews and some with the Apostles.

014:005 And when a hostile movement was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with the sanction of their magistrates, to maltreat and stone them,

014:006 the Apostles, having become aware of it, made their escape into the Lycaonian towns of Lystra and Derbe, and the neighbouring country.

014:007 And there they continued to tell the Good News.

014:008 Now a man who had no power in his feet used to sit in the streets of Lystra. He had been lame from his birth and had never walked.

014:009 After this man had listened to one of Paul's sermons, the Apostle, looking steadily at him and perceiving that he had faith to be cured,

014:010 said in a loud voice, "Stand upright upon your feet!"

014:011 So he sprang up and began to walk about. Then the crowds, seeing what Paul had done, rent the air with their shouts in the Lycaonian language, saying, "The gods have assumed human form and have come down to us."

014:012 They called Barnabas `Zeus,' and Paul, as being the principal speaker, `Hermes.'

014:013 And the priest of Zeus--the temple of Zeus being at the entrance to the city--brought bullocks and garlands to the gates, and in company with the crowd was intending to offer sacrifices to them.

014:014 But the Apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it; and tearing their clothes they rushed out into the middle of the crowd, exclaiming, "Sirs, why are you doing all this?

014:015 We also are but men, with natures kindred to your own; and we bring you the Good News that you are to turn from these unreal things, to worship the ever-living God, the Creator of earth and sky and sea and of everything that is in them.

014:016 In times gone by He allowed all the nations to go their own ways;

014:017 and yet by His beneficence He has not left His existence unattested-- His beneficence, I mean, in sending you rain from Heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and joyfulness."

014:018 Even with words like these they had difficulty in preventing the thronging crowd from offering sacrifices to them.

014:019 But now a party of Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and, having won over the crowd, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the town, believing him to be dead.

014:020 When, however, the disciples had collected round him, he rose and went back into the town. The next day he went with Barnabas to Derbe;

014:021 and, after proclaiming the Good News to the people there and gaining a large number of converts, they retraced their steps to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch.

014:022 Everywhere they strengthened the disciples by encouraging them to hold fast to the faith, and warned them saying, "It is through many afflictions that we must make our way into the Kingdom of God."

014:023 And in every Church, after prayer and fasting, they selected Elders by show of hands, and commended them to the Lord on whom their faith rested.

014:024 Then passing through Pisidia they came into Pamphylia;

014:025 and after telling the Message at Perga they came down to Attaleia.

014:026 Thence they sailed to Antioch, where they had previously been commended to the grace of God in connexion with the work which they had now completed.

014:027 Upon their arrival they called the Church together and proceeded to report in detail all that God, working with them, had done, and how He had opened for the Gentiles the door of faith.

014:028 And they remained a considerable time in Antioch with the disciples.

015:001 But certain persons who had come down from Judaea tried to convince the brethren, saying, "Unless you are circumcised in accordance with the Mosaic custom, you cannot be saved."

015:002 Between these new comers and Paul and Barnabas there was no little disagreement and controversy, until at last it was decided that Paul and Barnabas and some other brethren should go up to consult the Apostles and Elders in Jerusalem on this matter.

015:003 So they set out, being accompanied for a short distance by some other members of the Church; and as they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told the whole story of the conversion of the Gentiles and inspired all the brethren with great joy.

015:004 Upon their arrival in Jerusalem they were cordially received by the Church, the Apostles, and the Elders; and they reported in detail all that God, working with them, had done.

015:005 But certain men who had belonged to the sect of the Pharisees but were now believers, stood up in the assembly, and said, "Yes, Gentile believers ought to be circumcised and be ordered to keep the Law of Moses."

015:006 Then the Apostles and Elders met to consider the matter;

015:007 and after there had been a long discussion Peter rose to his feet. "It is within your own knowledge," he said, "that God originally made choice among you that from my lips the Gentiles were to hear the Message of the Good News, and believe.

015:008 And God, who knows all hearts, gave His testimony in their favour by bestowing the Holy Spirit on them just as He did on us;

015:009 and He made no difference between us and them, in that He cleansed their hearts by their faith.

015:010 Now, therefore, why try an experiment upon God, by laying on the necks of these disciples a yoke which neither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear?

015:011 On the contrary, we believe that it is by the grace of the Lord Jesus that we, as well as they, shall be saved."

015:012 Then the whole assembly remained silent while they listened to the statement made by Paul and Barnabas as to all the signs and marvels that God had done among the Gentiles through their instrumentality.

015:013 When they had finished speaking, James said, "Brethren, listen to me.

015:014 Symeon has related how God first looked graciously on the Gentiles to take from among them a People to be called by His name.

015:015 And this is in harmony with the language of the Prophets, which says:

015:016 "`"Afterwards I will return, and will rebuild David's fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will set it up again;

015:017 In order that the rest of mankind may earnestly seek the Lord-- even all the nations which are called by My name,"

015:018 Says the Lord, who has been making these things known from ages long past.'

015:019 "My judgement, therefore, is against inflicting unexpected annoyance on those of the Gentiles who are turning to God.

015:020 Yet let us send them written instructions to abstain from things polluted by connexion with idolatry, from fornication, from meat killed by strangling, and from blood.

015:021 For Moses from the earliest times has had his preachers in every town, being read, as he is, Sabbath after Sabbath, in the various synagogues."

015:022 Thereupon it was decided by the Apostles and Elders, with the approval of the whole Church, to choose suitable persons from among themselves and send them to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas. Judas, called Bar-sabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren, were selected,

015:023 and they took with them the following letter: "The Apostles and the elder brethren send greeting to the Gentile brethren throughout Antioch, Syria and Cilicia.

015:024 As we have been informed that certain persons who have gone out from among us have disturbed you by their teaching and have unsettled your minds, without having received any such instructions from us;

015:025 we have unanimously decided to select certain men and send them to you in company with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul,

015:026 who have endangered their very lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.

015:027 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who are themselves bringing you the same message by word of mouth.

015:028 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no burden heavier than these necessary requirements--

015:029 You must abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from fornication. Keep yourselves clear of these things, and it will be well with you. Farewell."

015:030 They, therefore, having been solemnly sent, came down to Antioch, where they called together the whole assembly and delivered the letter.

015:031 The people read it, and were delighted with the comfort it brought them.

015:032 And Judas and Silas, being themselves also Prophets, gave them a long and encouraging talk, and strengthened them in the faith.

015:033 After spending some time there they received an affectionate farewell from the brethren to return to those who had sent them.

015:034 []

015:035 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and, in company with many others, telling the Good News of the Lord's Message.

015:036 After a while Paul said to Barnabas, "Suppose we now revisit the brethren in the various towns in which we have made known the Lord's Message--to see whether they are prospering!"

015:037 Barnabas, however, was bent on taking with them John, whose other name was Mark,

015:038 while Paul deemed it undesirable to have as their companion one who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work.

015:039 So there arose a serious disagreement between them, which resulted in their parting from one another, Barnabas taking Mark and setting sail for Cyprus.

015:040 But Paul chose Silas as his travelling companion; and set out, after being commended by the brethren to the grace of the Lord;

015:041 and he passed through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the Churches.

016:001 He also came to Derbe and to Lystra. At Lystra he found a disciple, Timothy by name--the son of a Christian Jewess, though he had a Greek father.

016:002 Timothy was well spoken of by the brethren at Lystra and Iconium,

016:003 and Paul desiring that he should accompany him on his journey, took him and circumcised him on account of the Jews in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

016:004 As they journeyed on from town to town, they handed to the brethren for their observance the decisions which had been arrived at by the Apostles and Elders in Jerusalem.

016:005 So the Churches went on gaining a stronger faith and growing in numbers from day to day.

016:006 Then Paul and his companions passed through Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Message in the province of Asia.

016:007 When they reached the frontier of Mysia, they were about to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not permit this.

016:008 So, passing along Mysia, they came to Troas.

016:009 Here, one night, Paul saw a vision. There was a Macedonian who was standing, entreating him and saying, "Come over into Macedonia and help us."

016:010 So when he had seen the vision, we immediately looked out for an opportunity of passing on into Macedonia, confidently inferring that God had called us to proclaim the Good News to the people there.

016:011 Accordingly we put out to sea from Troas, and ran a straight course to Samothrace. The next day we came to Neapolis,

016:012 and thence to Philippi, which is a city in Macedonia, the first in its district, a Roman colony. And there we stayed some little time.

016:013 On the Sabbath we went beyond the city gate to the riverside, where we had reason to believe that there was a place for prayer; and sitting down we talked with the women who had come together.

016:014 Among our hearers was one named Lydia, a dealer in purple goods. She belonged to the city of Thyateira, and was a worshipper of the true God. The Lord opened her heart, so that she gave attention to what Paul was saying.

016:015 When she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, "If in your judgement I am a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house." And she made us go there.

016:016 One day, as we were on our way to the place of prayer, a slave girl met us who claimed to be inspired and was accustomed to bring her owners large profits by telling fortunes.

016:017 She kept following close behind Paul and the rest of us, crying aloud, "These men are the bondservants of the Most High God, and are proclaiming to you the way of salvation."

016:018 This she persisted in for a considerable time, until Paul, wearied out, turned round and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out immediately.

016:019 But when her owners saw that their hopes of gain were gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them off to the magistrates in the public square.

016:020 Then they brought them before the praetors. "These men," they said, "are creating a great disturbance in our city.

016:021 They are Jews, and are teaching customs which we, as Romans, are not permitted to adopt or practise."

016:022 The crowd, too, joined in the outcry against them, till at length the praetors ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods;

016:023 and, after severely flogging them, they threw them into jail and bade the jailer keep them safely.

016:024 He, having received an order like that, lodged them in the inner prison, and secured their feet in the stocks.

016:025 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,

016:026 when suddenly there was such a violent shock of earthquake that the prison shook to its foundations. Instantly the doors all flew open, and the chains fell off from every prisoner.

016:027 Starting up from sleep and seeing the doors of the jail wide open, the jailer drew his sword and was on the point of killing himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.

016:028 But Paul shouted loudly to him, saying, "Do yourself no injury: we are all here.

016:029 Then, calling for lights, he sprang in and fell trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas;

016:030 and, bringing them out of the prison, he exclaimed, "O sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

016:031 "Believe on the Lord Jesus," they replied, "and both you and your household will be saved."

016:032 And they told the Lord's Message to him as well as to all who were in his house.

016:033 Then he took them, even at that time of night, washed their wounds, and he and all his household were immediately baptized;

016:034 and bringing the Apostles up into his house, he spread a meal for them, and was filled with gladness, with his whole household, his faith resting on God.

016:035 In the morning the praetors sent their lictors with the order, "Release those men."

016:036 So the jailer brought Paul word, saying, "The praetors have sent orders for you to be released. Now therefore you can go, and proceed on your way in peace."

016:037 But Paul said to them, "After cruelly beating us in public, without trial, Roman citizens though we are, they have thrown us into prison, and are they now going to send us away privately? No, indeed! Let them come in person and fetch us out."

016:038 This answer the lictors took back to the praetors, who were alarmed when they were told that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.

016:039 Accordingly they came and apologized to them; and, bringing them out, asked them to leave the city.

016:040 Then Paul and Silas, having come out of the prison, went to Lydia's house; and, after seeing the brethren and encouraging them, they left Philippi.

017:001 Then, passing through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they went to Thessalonica. Here there was a synagogue of the Jews.

017:002 Paul--following his usual custom--betook himself to it, and for three successive Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

017:003 which he clearly explained, pointing out that it had been necessary for the Christ to suffer and rise again from the dead, and insisting, "The Jesus whom I am announcing to you is the Christ."

017:004 Some of the people were won over, and attached themselves to Paul and Silas, including many God-fearing Greeks and not a few gentlewomen of high rank.

017:005 But the jealousy of the Jews was aroused, and, calling to their aid some ill-conditioned and idle fellows, they got together a riotous mob and filled the city with uproar. They then attacked the house of Jason and searched for Paul and Silas, to bring them out before the assembly of people.

017:006 But, failing to find them, they dragged Jason and some of the other brethren before the magistrates of the city, loudly accusing them. "These men," they said, "who have raised a tumult throughout the Empire, have come here also.

017:007 Jason has received them into his house; and they all set Caesar's authority at defiance, declaring that there is another Emperor-- one called Jesus."

017:008 Great was the excitement among the crowd, and among the magistrates of the city, when they heard these charges.

017:009 They required Jason and the rest to find substantial bail, and after that they let them go.

017:010 The brethren at once sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea, and they, on their arrival, went to the synagogue of the Jews.

017:011 The Jews at Beroea were of a nobler disposition than those in Thessalonica, for they very readily received the Message, and day after day searched the Scriptures to see whether it was as Paul stated.

017:012 As the result many of them became believers, and so did not a few of the Greeks--gentlewomen of good position, and men.

017:013 As soon, however, as the Jews of Thessalonica learnt that God's Message had been proclaimed by Paul at Beroea, they came there also, and incited the mob to a riot.

017:014 Then the brethren promptly sent Paul down to the sea-coast, but Silas and Timothy remained behind.

017:015 Those who were caring for Paul's safety went with him as far as Athens, and then left him, taking a message from him to Silas and Timothy, asking them to join him as speedily as possible.

017:016 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was stirred within him when he noticed that the city was full of idols.

017:017 So he had discussions in the synagogue with the Jews and the other worshippers, and in the market place, day after day, with those whom he happened to meet.