Study Desk

and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."

Then Simon answered, "Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me."

So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means "queen of the Ethiopians"). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship,

"How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.

Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit."

So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.

Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, "Please come at once!"

So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them."

The men replied, "We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say."

So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?"

So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us."

So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him

So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God's way?"

When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life."

and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.