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Now there was a man in ^(C1)Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was ^(C2)called the Italian ^(F1)cohort,

a devout man and ^(C1)one who feared God with all his household, and ^(C2)made many charitable contributions to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually.

About ^(C1)the ^(F1)ninth hour of the day he clearly saw ^(C2)in a vision ^(C3)an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, "Cornelius!"

And he ^(C1)looked at him intently and became terrified, and said, "What is it, lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and charitable gifts ^(C2)have ascended ^(C3)as a memorial offering before God.

"Now dispatch some men to ^(C1)Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter;

he is staying with a tanner named ^(C1)Simon, whose house is by the sea."

When the angel who ^(*)spoke to him left, he summoned two of his ^(F1)servants and a devout soldier from his personal attendants,

and after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to ^(C1)Joppa.

On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, ^(C1)Peter went up on ^(C2)the ^(F1)housetop about ^(F2)(C3)the sixth hour to pray.

But he became hungry and wanted to eat; but while they were making preparations, he ^(C1)fell into a trance;

and he ^(*)saw ^(C1)the sky opened up, and an ^(F1)object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground,

and on it were all kinds of four-footed animals and ^(F1)crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the sky.

A voice came to him, "Get up, Peter, ^(F1)kill and eat!"

But Peter said, "By no means, ^(C1)Lord, for ^(C2)I have never eaten anything ^(F1)unholy and unclean."

Again a voice came to him a second time, "^(C1)What God has cleansed, no longer ^(F1)consider unholy."

This happened three times, and immediately the ^(F1)object was taken up into the sky.

Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in ^(F1)mind as to what ^(C1)the vision which he had seen might ^(F2)mean, behold, ^(C2)the men who had been sent by Cornelius had asked directions to Simon's house, and they appeared at the gate;

and calling out, they were asking whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there.

While Peter was reflecting on ^(C1)the vision, ^(C2)the Spirit said to him, "Behold, ^(F1)three men are looking for you.

"But get up, go downstairs and ^(C1)accompany them ^(F1)without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself."

Peter went down to the men and said, "Behold, I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for which you have come?"

They said, "Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and ^(C1)God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, ^(C2)was divinely directed by a ^(C3)holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear ^(F1)(C4)a message from you."

So he invited them in and gave them lodging. Peter in Caesarea Now on the next day he got ready and went away with them, and ^(C1)some of ^(C2)the brothers from ^(C3)Joppa accompanied him.

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On the following day he entered ^(C1)Caesarea. Now Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and ^(F1)(C1)worshiped him.

But Peter helped him up, saying, "^(C1)Stand up; I, too, am just a man."

As he talked with him, he entered and ^(*)found ^(C1)many people assembled.

And he said to them, "You yourselves know that it is ^(C1)forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or visit a ^(F1)foreigner; and yet ^(C2)God has shown me that I am not to call any person ^(F2)unholy or unclean.

"That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask, for what reason did you send for me?"

Cornelius said, "^(C1)Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during ^(C2)the ^(F1)ninth hour; and behold, ^(C3)a man stood before me in shining clothing,

and he ^(*)said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your charitable gifts have been remembered before God.

'Therefore send some men to ^(C1)Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you; he is staying at the house of Simon the tanner, by the sea.'

"So I sent men to you immediately, and you have ^(F1)been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear everything that you have been commanded by the Lord."

^(C1)Opening his mouth, Peter said: "I most certainly understand now that ^(C2)God is not one to show partiality,

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but ^(C1)in every nation the one who ^(F1)(C2)fears Him and ^(F2)does what is right is acceptable to Him.

"The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, ^(C1)preaching ^(F1)(C2)peace through Jesus Christ (He is ^(C3)Lord of all)—

you yourselves know the thing that happened throughout Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed.

"^(F1)You know of ^(C1)Jesus of Nazareth, how God ^(C2)anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, ^(F2)(C3)and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for ^(C4)God was with Him.

"We are ^(C1)witnesses of all the things that He did both in the ^(F1)country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on ^(F2)(C2)a cross.

"^(C1)God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He ^(F1)be revealed,

^(C1)not to all the people, but to ^(C2)witnesses who had been chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us ^(C3)who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.

"And He ^(C1)ordered us to ^(F1)preach to the people, and to ^(C2)testify solemnly that this is the One who has been ^(C3)appointed by God as ^(C4)Judge of the living and the dead.

"^(C1)All the prophets testify of Him, that through ^(C2)His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins."

While Peter was still speaking these words, ^(C1)the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the ^(F1)message.

^(C1)All the ^(F1)Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had also been ^(C2)poured out on the Gentiles.

For they were hearing them ^(C1)speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter responded,

"^(C1)Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized, who ^(C2)have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?"

And he ^(C1)ordered them to be baptized ^(C2)in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.

Now the apostles and ^(C1)the brothers and sisters who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.

And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, ^(F1)(C1)the Jewish believers took issue with him,

saying, "^(C1)You ^(F1)went to ^(F2)uncircumcised men and ate with them."

But Peter began and explained at length to them ^(C1)in an orderly sequence, saying,

"^(C1)I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw ^(C2)a vision, an ^(F1)object coming down like a great sheet lowered by four corners from the sky; and it came to where I was,

and I stared at it and was thinking about it, and I saw the four-footed animals of the earth, the wild animals, the ^(F1)crawling creatures, and the birds of the sky.

"I also heard a voice saying to me, 'Get up, Peter; ^(F1)kill and eat.'

"But I said, 'By no means, Lord, for nothing ^(F1)unholy or unclean has ever entered my mouth.'

"But a voice from heaven answered a second time, '^(C1)What God has cleansed, no longer ^(F1)consider unholy.'

"This happened three times, and everything was drawn back up into the sky.

"And behold, at that moment three men who had been sent to me from ^(C1)Caesarea came up to the house where we were staying.

"^(C1)And the Spirit told me to go with them ^(C2)without ^(F1)misgivings. ^(C3)These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man's house.

"And he reported to us how he had seen the angel ^(F1)standing in his house, and saying, 'Send some men to Joppa and have Simon, who is also called Peter, brought here;

and he will speak ^(C1)words to you by which you will be saved, you and ^(C2)all your household.'

"And as I began to speak, ^(C1)the Holy Spirit fell upon them just ^(C2)as He did upon us at the beginning.

"And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, '^(C1)John baptized with water, but you will be baptized ^(F1)with the Holy Spirit.'

"Therefore, if ^(C1)God gave them the same gift as He also gave to us after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, ^(C2)who was I that I could ^(F1)stand in God's way?"

When they heard this, they ^(F1)quieted down and ^(C1)glorified God, saying, "Well then, God has also granted to the Gentiles the ^(C2)repentance that leads to life."

^(C1)So then those who were scattered because of the ^(F1)persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way ^(F2)to ^(C2)Phoenicia, ^(C3)Cyprus, and ^(C4)Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone.

But there were some of them, men of ^(C1)Cyprus and ^(C2)Cyrene, who came to ^(C3)Antioch and began speaking to the ^(F1)(C4)Greeks as well, ^(C5)preaching the good news of the Lord Jesus.

And ^(C1)the hand of the Lord was with them, and ^(C2)a large number who believed turned to the Lord.

The ^(F1)news about them ^(F2)reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent ^(C1)Barnabas off ^(F3)to ^(C2)Antioch.

Then when he arrived and ^(F1)witnessed ^(C1)the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with ^(F2)resolute heart to remain true to the Lord;

for he was a good man, and ^(C1)full of the Holy Spirit and faith. And ^(F1)(C2)considerable numbers were added to the Lord.

And he left for ^(C1)Tarsus to look for Saul;

and when he had found him, he brought him to ^(C1)Antioch. And for an entire year they ^(F1)met with the church and taught ^(F2)considerable numbers of people; and ^(C2)the disciples were first called ^(C3)Christians in ^(C1)Antioch.

Now ^(F1)at this time some ^(C1)prophets came down from Jerusalem to ^(C2)Antioch.

One of them, named ^(C1)Agabus, stood up and ^(F1)indicated ^(F2)by the Spirit that there would definitely be a severe famine ^(C2)all over the ^(F3)world. ^(F4)And this took place in the reign of ^(C3)Claudius.

And to the extent that any of ^(C1)the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the ^(F1)relief of ^(C2)the brothers and sisters living in Judea.

^(C1)And they did this, sending it ^(F1)with ^(C2)Barnabas and Saul to the ^(C3)elders.

Now about that time ^(F1)Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church, to do them harm.

And he ^(C1)had James the brother of John ^(C2)executed with a sword.

When he saw that it ^(C1)pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter as well. (Now these were ^(F1)(C2)the days of Unleavened Bread.)

When he had arrested him, he put him in prison, turning him over to four ^(F1)(C1)squads of soldiers to guard him, intending only after ^(C2)the Passover to bring him before the people.

So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made to God ^(F1)intensely by the church.

On ^(F1)the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, ^(C1)bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison.

And behold, ^(C1)an angel of the Lord suddenly ^(C2)stood near Peter, and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter's side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And ^(C3)his chains fell off his hands.

And the angel said to him, "Put on your belt and ^(F1)strap on your sandals." And he did so. And he ^(*)said to him, "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me."

And he went out and continued to follow, and yet he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing ^(C1)a vision.

Now when they had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which ^(C1)opened for them by itself; and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.

When Peter ^(C1)came ^(F1)to himself, he said, "Now I know for sure that ^(C2)the Lord has sent forth His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all ^(F2)that the Jewish people were expecting."

And when he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of ^(C1)John, who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and ^(C2)were praying.

When he knocked at the door of the gate, ^(C1)a slave woman named Rhoda came to answer.

When she recognized Peter's voice, ^(C1)because of her joy she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter was standing in front of the gate.

They said to her, "You are out of your mind!" But she kept insisting that it was so. They said, "It is ^(C1)his angel."

But Peter continued knocking; and when they had opened the door, they saw him and were amazed.

But ^(C1)motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had led him out of the prison. And he said, "Report these things to ^(F1)(C2)James and ^(C3)the brothers." Then he left and went to another place.

Now when day came, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers as to ^(F1)what could have become of Peter.

When Herod had searched for him and had not found him, he examined the guards and ordered that they ^(C1)be led away to execution. Then he went down from Judea to ^(C2)Caesarea and was spending time there.

Now he was very angry with the people of ^(C1)Tyre and Sidon; and with one mind they came to him, and having won over Blastus the king's chamberlain, they were asking for peace, because ^(C2)their country was supported with grain from the king's country.

On an appointed day, after putting on his royal apparel, Herod took his seat on the ^(F1)rostrum and began delivering an address to them.

The people repeatedly cried out, "The voice of a god and not of a man!"

And immediately ^(C1)an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and ^(F1)died.

But ^(C1)the word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied.

And ^(C1)Barnabas and ^(C1)Saul returned ^(C2)when they had fulfilled their ^(F1)mission to Jerusalem, taking along with them ^(C3)John, who was also called Mark.

Now there were ^(C1)prophets and ^(C2)teachers at ^(C3)Antioch, in the ^(C4)church that was there: ^(C5)Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of ^(C6)Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with ^(C7)Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

While they were ^(F1)serving the Lord and fasting, ^(C1)the Holy Spirit said, "Set ^(C2)Barnabas and Saul apart for Me for ^(C3)the work to which I have called them."

Then, when they had fasted, ^(C1)prayed, and ^(C2)laid their hands on them, ^(C3)they sent them away.

So, being ^(C1)sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to ^(C2)Cyprus.

When they reached Salamis, they began to proclaim the word of God in ^(C1)the synagogues of the Jews; and they also had ^(C2)John as their helper.

When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a ^(C1)magician, a Jewish ^(C2)false prophet whose name was Bar-Jesus,

who was with the ^(C1)proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.

But Elymas the ^(C1)magician (for so his name is translated) was opposing them, seeking to turn the ^(C2)proconsul away from ^(C3)the faith.

But Saul, who was also known as Paul, ^(F1)(C1)filled with the Holy Spirit, stared at him,

and said, "^(F1)You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you ^(C1)son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not stop making crooked ^(C2)the straight ways of the Lord?

"Now, behold, ^(C1)the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time." And immediately a mist and a darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking those who would lead him by the hand.

Then the ^(C1)proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at ^(C2)the teaching of the Lord.

Now Paul and his companions put out to sea from ^(C1)Paphos and came to ^(C2)Perga in ^(C3)Pamphylia; but ^(C4)John left them and returned to Jerusalem.

But going on from Perga, they arrived at ^(C1)Pisidian ^(C2)Antioch, and on ^(C3)the Sabbath day they went into ^(C4)the synagogue and sat down.

After ^(C1)the reading of the Law and ^(C2)the Prophets, ^(C3)the synagogue officials sent word to them, saying, "^(F1)Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it."

Paul stood up, and ^(C1)motioning with his hand said, "Men of Israel, and ^(C2)you who fear God, listen:

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"The God of this people Israel ^(C1)chose our fathers and ^(F1)(C2)made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm ^(C3)He led them out from it.

"For ^(C1)a period of about forty years ^(C2)He put up with them in the wilderness.

"^(C1)When He had destroyed ^(C2)seven nations in the land of Canaan, He ^(C3)distributed their land as an inheritance—all of which took ^(C4)about 450 years.

"After these things He ^(C1)gave them judges until ^(C2)Samuel the prophet.

"Then they ^(C1)asked for a king, and God gave them ^(C2)Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.

"After He had ^(C1)removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, '^(C2)I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My ^(F1)will.'

"^(C1)From the descendants of this man, ^(C2)according to promise, God has brought to Israel ^(C3)a Savior, Jesus,

after ^(C1)John had proclaimed, before ^(F1)His coming, a ^(C2)baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

"And while John ^(C1)was completing his course, ^(C2)he kept saying, 'What do you suppose that I am? I am not He. But behold, One is coming after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.'

"^(F1)Brothers, sons of Abraham's family, and those among you who fear God, to us the message of ^(C1)this salvation has been sent.

"For those who live in Jerusalem, and their ^(C1)rulers, ^(C2)recognizing neither Him nor the ^(F1)declarations of ^(C3)the prophets which are ^(C4)read every Sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning Him.

"And though they found no grounds for putting Him to death, they ^(C1)asked Pilate that He be executed.

"When they had ^(C1)carried out everything that was written concerning Him, ^(C2)they took Him down from the ^(F1)(C3)cross and ^(C4)laid Him in a tomb.

"But God ^(C1)raised Him from the dead;

and for many days ^(C1)He appeared to those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, the very ones who are now ^(C2)His witnesses to the people.

"And we ^(C1)preach to you the good news of ^(C2)the promise made to the fathers,

that God has fulfilled this promise to those of us who are the descendants by ^(C1)raising Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm: '^(C2)YOU ARE MY SON; TODAY I HAVE FATHERED YOU.'

"As for the fact that He ^(C1)raised Him from the dead, never again to return to decay, He has spoken in this way: '^(C2)I WILL GIVE YOU THE HOLY AND FAITHFUL MERCIES OF DAVID.'

"Therefore, He also says in another Psalm: '^(C1)YOU WILL NOT ^(F1)ALLOW YOUR ^(F2)HOLY ONE TO ^(F3)UNDERGO DECAY.'

"For ^(C1)David, after he had ^(F1)served God's ^(C2)purpose in his own generation, ^(C3)fell asleep, and was ^(F2)buried among his fathers and ^(F3)underwent decay;

but He whom God ^(C1)raised did not ^(F1)undergo decay.

"Therefore let it be known to you, ^(F1)brothers, that ^(C1)through ^(F2)Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,

and ^(F1)through Him ^(C1)everyone who believes is ^(F2)freed from all things, from which you could not be ^(F2)freed ^(F3)through the Law of Moses.

"Therefore, see that the thing spoken of ^(C1)in the Prophets does not come upon you:

'^(C1)LOOK, YOU SCOFFERS, AND BE ASTONISHED, AND ^(F1)PERISH; FOR I AM ACCOMPLISHING A WORK IN YOUR DAYS, A WORK WHICH YOU WILL NEVER BELIEVE, THOUGH SOMEONE SHOULD DESCRIBE IT TO YOU.'"

As ^(F1)Paul and Barnabas were going out, the people repeatedly begged to have these ^(F2)things spoken to them the next ^(C1)Sabbath.

Now when the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and the ^(C1)God-fearing ^(F1)(C2)proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking to them and urging them to continue in ^(C3)the grace of God.

The next ^(C1)Sabbath nearly all the city assembled to hear the word of ^(F1)the Lord.

But when ^(C1)the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began contradicting the things spoken by Paul, and were ^(F1)blaspheming.

Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, "It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you ^(C1)first. Since you repudiate it and consider yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, ^(C2)we are turning to the Gentiles.

"For so the Lord has commanded us, '^(C1)I HAVE APPOINTED YOU AS A ^(C2)LIGHT ^(F1)TO THE GENTILES, THAT YOU MAY ^(F2)BRING SALVATION TO THE END OF THE EARTH.'"

When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying ^(C1)the word of ^(F1)the Lord; and all who ^(C2)had been appointed to eternal life believed.

And ^(C1)the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region.

But ^(C1)the Jews incited the ^(F1)(C2)devout women ^(C3)of prominence and the leading men of the city, and instigated a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their ^(F2)region.

But ^(C1)they shook off the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to ^(C2)Iconium.

And the disciples were continually ^(C1)filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

In ^(C1)Iconium ^(C2)they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a way ^(C3)that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of ^(C4)Greeks.

But ^(C1)the ^(F1)(C2)unbelieving Jews stirred up the ^(F2)minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against ^(C3)the brothers.

Therefore they spent a long time there ^(C1)speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that ^(F1)(C2)signs and wonders be performed by their hands.

^(C1)But the ^(F1)people of the city were divided; and some ^(F2)sided with ^(C2)the Jews, while others, with ^(C3)the apostles.

And when an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and ^(C1)the Jews with their rulers, to treat them abusively and to ^(C2)stone them,

they became aware of it and fled to the cities of ^(C1)Lycaonia, ^(C2)Lystra and ^(C3)Derbe, and the surrounding region;

and there they continued to ^(C1)preach the gospel.

In ^(C1)Lystra ^(C2)a man was sitting whose feet were incapacitated. He had been disabled from his mother's womb, and had never walked.

This man was listening to Paul as he spoke. Paul ^(C1)looked at him intently and saw that he had ^(C2)faith to be ^(F1)made well,

and he said with a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet!" ^(C1)And the man leaped up and began to walk.

When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the ^(C1)Lycaonian language, "^(C2)The gods have become like men and have come down to us!"

And they began calling Barnabas, ^(F1)Zeus, and Paul, ^(F2)Hermes, since he was ^(F3)the chief speaker.

Moreover, the priest of Zeus, whose temple was ^(F1)just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and ^(C1)wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.

But when ^(C1)the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard about it, they ^(C2)tore their ^(F1)robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out

and saying, "Men, why are you doing these things? We are also ^(C1)men, of the same nature as you, ^(C2)preaching the gospel to you, to turn from these ^(F1)(C3)useless things to a ^(C4)living God, who ^(C5)MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND EVERYTHING THAT IS IN THEM.

"^(F1)In past generations He ^(C1)permitted all the ^(F2)nations to ^(C2)go their own ways;

yet ^(C1)He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and ^(C2)gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, ^(F1)satisfying your hearts with food and gladness."

And even by saying these things, only with difficulty did they restrain the crowds from offering sacrifices to them.

But ^(C1)Jews came from ^(C2)Antioch and ^(C3)Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they ^(C4)stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, thinking that he was dead.

But while ^(C1)the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he left with Barnabas for ^(C2)Derbe.

And after they had ^(C1)preached the gospel to that city and had ^(C2)made a good number of disciples, they returned to ^(C3)Lystra, to ^(C4)Iconium, and to ^(C5)Antioch,

strengthening the souls of ^(C1)the disciples, encouraging them to continue in ^(C2)the faith, and saying, "^(C3)It is through many tribulations that we must enter the kingdom of God."

When ^(C1)they had appointed ^(C2)elders for them in every church, having ^(C3)prayed with fasting, they ^(C4)entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

They passed through ^(C1)Pisidia and came into ^(C2)Pamphylia.

When they had spoken the word in ^(C1)Perga, they went down to Attalia.

From there they sailed to ^(C1)Antioch, ^(C2)where they had been ^(C3)entrusted to the grace of God for the work that they had ^(F1)accomplished.

When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to ^(C1)report all the things that God had done with them and ^(F1)how He had opened a ^(C2)door of faith to the Gentiles.

And they spent ^(F1)a long time with ^(C1)the disciples.

^(C1)Some men came down from Judea and began teaching ^(C2)the brothers, "Unless you are ^(C3)circumcised according to ^(C4)the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved."

And after Paul and Barnabas had ^(F1)a heated argument and ^(C1)debate with them, ^(C2)the brothers determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the ^(C3)apostles and elders concerning this issue.

Therefore, after being ^(C1)sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both ^(C2)Phoenicia and Samaria, ^(C3)describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they were bringing great joy to all ^(C4)the brothers and sisters.

When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were received by the church, ^(C1)the apostles, and the elders, and they ^(C2)reported all that God had done with them.

But some of ^(C1)the sect of the ^(C2)Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, "It is necessary to ^(C3)circumcise ^(F1)them and to direct them to keep the Law of Moses."

^(C1)The apostles and the elders came together to ^(F1)look into this ^(F2)matter.

After there had been much ^(C1)debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "^(F1)Brothers, you know that ^(F2)in the early days ^(C2)God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of ^(C3)the gospel and believe.

"And God, ^(C1)who knows the heart, testified to them ^(C2)giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us;

and ^(C1)He made no distinction between us and them, ^(C2)cleansing their hearts by faith.

"Since this is the case, why are you ^(C1)putting God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which ^(C2)neither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear?

"But we believe that we are saved through ^(C1)the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are."

All the people kept silent, and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul as they were ^(C1)relating all the ^(C2)signs and wonders that God had done through them among the Gentiles.

After they stopped speaking, ^(F1)(C1)James responded, saying, "^(F2)Brothers, listen to me.

"^(C1)Simeon has described how God first concerned Himself about taking a people for His name from among the Gentiles.

"The words of ^(C1)the Prophets agree with this, just as it is written:

'^(C1)AFTER THESE THINGS ^(C2)I will return, AND I WILL REBUILD THE FALLEN ^(F1)TABERNACLE OF DAVID, AND I WILL REBUILD ITS RUINS, AND I WILL RESTORE IT,

^(C1)SO THAT THE REST OF MANKIND MAY SEEK THE LORD, AND ALL THE GENTILES ^(F1)(C2)WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME,'

^(C1)SAYS THE LORD, WHO ^(F1)(C2)MAKES THESE THINGS known from long ago.

"Therefore, it is ^(C1)my judgment that we do not cause trouble for those from the Gentiles who are turning to God,

but that we write to them that they abstain from ^(F1)(C1)things contaminated by idols, from ^(C2)acts of sexual immorality, from ^(C3)what has been ^(F2)strangled, and from blood.

"For ^(C1)from ancient generations Moses has those who preach him in every city, since ^(F1)he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath."

Then it seemed good to ^(C1)the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to ^(C2)Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas who was called Barsabbas, and ^(C3)Silas, leading men among ^(C4)the brothers,

and they ^(F1)sent this letter with them: "^(C1)The apostles and the brothers who are elders, to ^(C2)the brothers and sisters in ^(C3)Antioch, ^(C4)Syria, and ^(C5)Cilicia who are from the Gentiles: ^(C6)Greetings.

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Since we have heard that ^(C1)some ^(F1)of our number to whom we gave no instruction have ^(C2)confused you by their ^(F2)teaching, upsetting your souls,

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^(C1)it seemed good to us, having ^(F1)become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

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men who have ^(F1)(C1)risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Therefore, we have sent ^(C1)Judas and ^(C2)Silas, who themselves will also report the same things by word of mouth.

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For ^(C1)it seemed good to ^(C2)the Holy Spirit and to ^(C3)us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials:

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that you abstain from ^(C1)things sacrificed to idols, from ^(C1)blood, from ^(C1)things strangled, and from ^(C1)acts of sexual immorality; ^(F1)if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell."

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So when they were sent away, ^(C1)they went down to Antioch; and after gathering the ^(F1)congregation together, they delivered the letter.

When they had read it, they rejoiced because of its ^(F1)encouragement.

^(C1)Judas and ^(C2)Silas, also being ^(C3)prophets themselves, ^(F1)encouraged and strengthened ^(C4)the brothers and sisters with a lengthy message.

After they had spent time there, they were sent away from the brothers and sisters ^(C1)in peace to those who had ^(C2)sent them out.^(F1)

But ^(C1)Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and ^(C2)preaching ^(C3)the word of the Lord, with many others also.

After some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let's return and visit the brothers and sisters in ^(C1)every city in which we proclaimed ^(C2)the word of the Lord, and see how they are."

Barnabas wanted to take ^(C1)John, called Mark, along with them also.

But Paul was of the opinion that they should not take along with them this man who had ^(C1)deserted them ^(F1)in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.

Now it turned into such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took ^(C1)Mark with him and sailed away to ^(C2)Cyprus.

But Paul chose ^(C1)Silas, and left after being ^(C2)entrusted by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.

And he was traveling through ^(C1)Syria and ^(C2)Cilicia, strengthening the churches.