Luke 1. Because many indeed have attempted to set out a narrative of the events that have been completed among us as they were handed to us – those who have seen from the beginning, and were ministers of the words – it seemed good to me also, having followed all diligently from the beginning, to write for you in order, noble Theophilus, so you may know the truth of their words, from which you have been taught.
There was in the days of Herod, Judea’s king, a certain priest named Zachariah, of Abia’s turn, and his wife was from Aaron’s daughters, and her name was Elizabeth. But both were righteous before God, walking in all the Lord’s mandates and justifications without complaint. And there was no son to them because Elizabeth was sterile, and both were far advanced in their days.
But it happened when the priesthood was being exercised in his turn’s order before God, according to priestly custom, the lot went out that he might place incense, going into the Lord’s temple. And all the people’s multitude was praying outside at the hour of incense. But the Lord’s angel appeared to him, standing at the right of the incense altar. And Zachariah was troubled, seeing him, and fear rushed in over him.
But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zachariah, for your plea is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will birth you a son, and you will call his name John. And joy will be yours, and exultation, and many will rejoice in his birth, for he will be great before the Lord. And he will not drink wine or liquor, and he will be filled by Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.
“And he will turn many of Israel’s sons to the Lord their God. And he will go before Him in Elijah’s breath and power, so he may turn fathers’ hearts to sons, and the disbelieving to the righteous ones’ prudence, to prepare a completed people for the Lord.”
And Zachariah said to the angel, “How can I know this, for I am an old man, and my wife is far advanced in her days?”
And the angel, answering, said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stand before God, and I was sent to speak to you, and to tell this good news to you. And look, you will be silent, and you won’t be able to speak even to the day when this takes place – because you haven’t believed my words, which will be fulfilled at their season.”
And the people was waiting for Zachariah, and they wondered that he delayed in the temple. But coming out, he couldn’t speak to them, and they understood that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he was nodding to them, and remained mute. And it happened that the days of his service were completed, and he went out to his house.
But after those days, Elizabeth his wife conceived, and she hid herself for five months, saying, “The Lord has done so for me, in the days when He looked to take away my reproach among men.”
But in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a Galilean city, whose name was Nazareth, to a virgin promised to a man whose name was Joseph, of David’s house, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And going in to her, the angel said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you! You are blessed among women.”
She, when she had seen, was troubled at his word, and she thought about what sort of greeting this was. And the angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you’ve found grace with God. Look, you will conceive in the womb, and you will birth a son, and will call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Most High’s Son, and the Lord God will give Him His father David’s seat. And He will reign in Jacob’s house in eternity, and there will be no end of His kingdom.”
But Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, for I do not know a man?”
And the angel, answering, said to her, “Holy Spirit will come over you, and the Most High’s power will overshadow you. And therefore also, the holy that will be born will be called God’s Son. And look, Elizabeth your kinswoman, she also has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the six month to her who was called sterile – for no word will be impossible with God.”
But Mary said, “Look, I am the Lord’s handmaid. Let it be to me according to your word!”
And the angel went away from her. But Mary, getting up, went out with haste in those days to the mountain country, to Judah’s city. And she went into Zachariah’s house, and greeted Elizabeth. And it happened that when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant in her womb exulted, and Elizabeth was filled by Holy Spirit. And she cried out in a great voice, and said, “You are blessed among women, and your womb’s fruit is blessed! And where is this to me from, that my Lord’s
mother should come to me? For look, as your greeting’s voice came to my ears, the infant in my womb exulted in joy. And she is blessed who believed that what was spoken to her from the Lord will be accomplished!”
And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my breath has exulted
in God my security,
for He has looked
on His handmaid’s humility.
For look, from this moment
all generations will call me blessed;
for He who is mighty
has done great works for me,
and His name is holy,
and His mercy endures
in generations and generations,
to those fearing Him.
He worked power by His arm.
He scattered the proud
in their heart’s mind.
He has put down the mighty
from their throne,
and lifted up the humble.
He filled the hungry with good,
and sent the rich away empty.
He received Israel, His servant,
to be mindful of mercy,
as He said to our fathers,
Abraham and his seed, in the age.”
But Mary remained with her around three months, and she went back to her house. But the time was fulfilled for Elizabeth to give birth, and she birthed a son. And her neighbors and kin heard that the Lord had magnified His mercy with her, and they congratulated her. And it happened on the eighth day they came to circumcise the boy, and they were calling him after his father’s name, Zachariah.
And his mother, answering, said, “By no means, yet he will be called John.”
And they said to her that, “There is no one in your clan who is called by that name.”
But they made signs to his father, what he wanted to call him. And asking a small writing tablet, he wrote, saying, “His name is John.”
And all were amazed. But his mouth was opened on the spot, and his tongue, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came over all their neighbors, and all these events were made known over all Judea’s mountain country. And all who heard set it in their heart, saying, “What do you suppose this boy will be,” for the Lord’s hand was with him.
And Zachariah, his father, was filled by Holy Spirit, and he prophesied, saying,
“Israel’s God be blessed,
for He has visited and bought back His people!
And He raised up security’s horn for us,
in David His servant’s house,
as He has spoken by His holy prophets’ mouth,
who are from the age;
security from our enemies,
and from the hands of all who hated us;
to working mercy with our fathers,
and to remember His holy testament;
the oath that He swore to Abraham our father,
to be given us from Him,
that we may serve Him without fear,
freed from our enemies’ hand;
in holiness and righteousness before Him,
all our days.
And you, boy, will be called
the Most High’s prophet,
for you will go before the Lord’s face
to prepare His ways;
to giving His people knowledge of security,
through the remission of their sins,
by the guts of our God’s mercy,
in which He has visited us,
rising from on high;
to illumine those who sit
in darkness and in death’s shadow,
to direct our feet in peace’s pathway.”
But the boy grew and was strengthened in breath, and he was in the desert until the day of his showing forth to Israel.
Luke 2.
But it happened in those days that an edict went out from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be described. This description was first made by Cyrinus, Syria’s president. And all were going so they could declare themselves, each in his own city.
But Joseph also went up from Galilee, from Nazareth city, to Judea, David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of David’s house and family, so he could declare himself with Mary, his
promised wife, who was pregnant.
But it happened when they were there that the days were completed that she give birth. And she birthed her firstborn son, and wrapped him in cloths, and laid him in a feed stall, because there was no place for them in the lodging.
And there were shepherds in that same region, caring and keeping the night’s watches over their flock. And look, the Lord’s angel stood beside them, and God’s clarity shone around them, and they feared with a great fear. And the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid! For look, I’m telling you good news of great joy, which will be to all people. For a securer is born to you today in David’s city, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: you will find an infant, wrapped in cloths and placed in a feed stall.”
And it happened suddenly – with the angel, a multitude of sky’s soldiers, praising God and saying,“Glory to God in the highest places, and
peace on earth to men of good will!”
And it happened as the angels went away from them, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go even to Bethlehem, and let’s see this word that has happened, that the Lord has done and shown to us.”
And they went hurrying, and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant placed in a feed stall. But seeing, they understood the word that was spoken to them about this boy. And all who heard wondered also about those things that were spoken to them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these words, carrying them in her heart. And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God in all that they had heard and seen, as was spoken to them.
And after the eight days were completed that he be circumcised, his name was called Jesus, which he was called by the angel before he had been conceived in the womb. And after the days of her cleansing were fulfilled according to Moses’ law, they took him to Jerusalem so they could present him to the Lord, as is written in the Lord’s law: that every male opening a vulva will be called holy to the Lord; and so they could give victims according to what is written in the Lord’s law: a pair of doves, or two young pigeons.
And look, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and reverent, waiting Israel’s consolation, and Holy Spirit was in him. And he had received an answer by Holy Spirit, that he himself would not see death
before he had first seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by Spirit into the temple. And when his parents had brought the boy Jesus in so they could do for him according to the law’s custom, he himself took him in his arms. And he blessed God and said, “Now, Lord, let Your slave go according to Your word, in peace, because my eyes have seen Your security, that You have prepared before the face of all peoples – light to the nations’ revelation, and glory to Israel, Your people!”
And his father and mother were wondering over those things that were said about him. And Simeon blessed them, and said to his mother Mary, “Look, this one is placed as the ruin and resurrection of many in Israel, and as a sign that will be spoken against. And a sword will pass through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
And Anna was a prophet, Phanuel’s daughter, from Asher’s tribe. She was far advanced in many days, and had lived with her husband seven years from her virginity. And she had been a widow even to her eighty-fourth year, who did not go out of the temple, serving in fastings and prayers night and day. And she, coming that same hour, confessed to
the Lord, and spoke about him to all who were waiting for Jerusalem’s redemption.
And as they completed all according to the Lord’s law, they went back to Galilee, to their city, Nazareth. But the boy grew and was strengthened, full of wisdom, and God’s grace was in him.
But his parents went every year to Jerusalem on the day of the Passover solemnity. And when he was twelve years old, they were going up to Jerusalem on the feast day, according to custom. And the days completed, when they went back, the boy Jesus stayed in Jerusalem, and his parents didn’t know. But, thinking him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey. And they sought him among the kin and acquaintances, and, not finding him, they went back to Jerusalem seeking him.
And it happened after three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the doctors, listening to them and asking questions. But all who heard him were astounded over his prudence and responses. And seeing him, they wondered, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done so to us? Look, your father and I sought you, suffering!”
And he said to them, “Why is it that you sought me? Didn’t you know that it’s necessary for me to be in those things that are my Father’s?”
And they didn’t understand the word that he spoke to them. And he went down with them, and came to
Nazareth, and was obedient to them. And his mother saved all these words in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom, age, and grace, with God and men.
Luke 3.
But in Tiberius Caesar’s fourteenth year, Pontius Pilate being Judea’s procurator, but Herod Philip tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysania tetrarch of Abilene, under the priestly princes Annas and Caiaphas, God’s word came over John, Zachariah’s son, in the desert. And he came into all the Jordan region, preaching a baptism of repentance to sins’
remission, as is written in the book of Isaiah the prophet’s words:
A voice crying out in the desert,
‘Prepare the Lord’s way!
Make His paths straight!
Every valley will be filled,
and every mountain and hill be made low.
And the twisted will be as straight,
and the rough as smooth ways.
And all flesh will see God’s security.’
Therefore, he was saying to the crowds who came out so they could be baptized by him, “Vipers’ spawn! Who showed you to flee from the coming wrath? Work fruit, then, worthy of penance, and
don’t begin to say, ‘We have Abraham as father’ – for I say to you that God can raise up Abraham’s sons from these rocks! For the ax is already placed at the trees’ root! Therefore every tree not making fruit will be cut down and thrown into fire.”
And the crowds questioned him, saying, “What then will we do?”
But answering, he was saying to them, “Let who has two shirts give to one not having. And let who has food do likewise!”
But tax collectors came also, so they could be baptized. And they said to him, “Teacher, what will we do?”
And he said to them, “You may do nothing more than what is appointed to you.”
But soldiers also questioned him, saying, “And we too, what will we do?”
And he said to them, “Strike no one, and work no oppression, and be content with your wages!”
But the people were all considering and thinking in their hearts about John, whether perhaps he was Christ. John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you by water. But Mightier-than-me comes, whose sandal lace I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you by Holy Spirit and by fire – whose winnowing-fork is in his hand. And he will purge his threshing floor, and gather the wheat in his barn. But he will burn the chaff with inextinguishable fire.”
Exhorting indeed by many other words also, he proclaimed good news to the people. But Herod the tetrarch, when he was rebuked by him about Herodias, his brother’s wife, and about all the harms that Herod did, added this also above all, and shut John up in prison.
But it happened when all the people was baptized, and Jesus also, baptized and praying, sky was opened, and Holy Spirit came down on him in bodily form, as a dove. And a voice came from the
sky, “You are My beloved Son. It is pleasing to Me in you.”
And Jesus himself was beginning around the thirtieth year, as was considered, Joseph’s son, who was of Eli; who was of Matthat, who was of Levi, who was of Melchi, who was of Jannae, who was of Joseph; who was of Matthathia, who was of Amos, who was of Naum, who was of Esli, who was of Naggai; who was of Maath, who was of Matthathia, who was of Semei, who was of Josech, who was of Joda; who was of Johanna, who was of Resa, who was of Zerubbabel, who was of Salathiel, who was of Neri; who was of Melchi, who was of Addi, who was of Cosam, who was of Helmadam, who was of Er; who was of Jesu, who was of Eliezer, who was of Jorim, who was of Matthat, who was of Levi; who was of Simeon, who was of Judah, who was of Joseph, who was of Jonah, who was of Eliakim; who was of Melea, who was of Menna, who was of Matthata, who was of Nathan, who was of David; who was of Jesse, who was of Obed, who was of Boaz, who was of Salmon, who was of Naasson; who was of Aminadab, who was of Aram, who was of Esrom, who was of Phares, who was of Judah; who was of Jacob, who was of Isaac, who was of Abraham, who was of Thareh, who was of Nahor; who was of Seruch, who was of Ragau, who was of Phalec, who was of Eber, who was of Saleh; who was of Cainan, who was of Arfaxat, who was of Shem, who was of Noah, who was of Lamech; who was of Methuselah, who was of Enoch, who was of Jared, who was of Malalehel, who was of Cainan; who was of Enosh, who was of Seth, who was of Adam, who was of God.
Luke 4.
But Jesus, full of Holy Spirit, went back from the Jordan, and was driven by Spirit into the desert. And he was tempted by the devil for forty days, and he ate nothing in those days. And, the days completed, he was hungry. But the devil said to him, “If you are God’s Son, say to this stone that it become bread.”
And Jesus answered to him, “It is written that ‘Man will not live in bread alone, but in every word of God.’”
And the devil led him, and showed him all the kingdoms of earth’s world in a moment of time. And he said to him, “I will give you all this power and their glory, because they are handed over to me, and I give them to whomever I want. So you, if you worship before me – all will be yours.”
And Jesus, answering, said, “It is written, ‘You will worship the Lord your God, and will serve Him only.”
And he led him to Jerusalem, and stood him on the temple’s spire. And he said to him, “If you are God’s Son, throw yourself down from here, for it is written that, ‘He will command His angels concerning you, that they preserve you,’ and that, ‘They will take you in hands, unless perhaps you strike your foot against a stone.’”
And Jesus, answering, said to him, “It is said, ‘You will not test the Lord your God.’”
And every temptation completed, the devil backed away from him even until the time. And Jesus went back in Spirit’s power to Galilee, and a rumor about him went out through all the region. And he was teaching in their synagogues, and was lifted up by all.
And he came to Nazareth where he was raised, and he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day according to custom, and he got up to read. And Isaiah the prophet’s book was handed to him, and as he opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
“The Lord’s Spirit is on me,
because He has anointed me.
He sent me to preach good news to the poor;
to proclaim release to captives
and sight to the blind;
to let the broken go in releasing;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of revenge.
And when he had rolled up the book, he gave it back to the minister and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. But he began to say to them that, “This scripture is fulfilled today in your ears.”
And all were giving testimony to him, and they wondered at the graceful words that were coming out of his mouth. And they were saying, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”
And he said to them, “You will certainly speak this comparison to me: ‘Healer, heal yourself!’ What we’ve heard happened in Capernaum, do here too, in your homeland!”
But he said, “Amen I say to you that no prophet is accepted in his homeland. I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s day, when the sky was closed up for three years and six months, when a great hunger came in all the land. And Elijah was sent to none of them, except to a widow woman in Sidonian Sareptha. And there were many lepers in Israel under Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except the Syrian Neman.”
And all in the synagogue were filled with anger, hearing this. And they got up and threw him out of the city. And they led him even to mountain’s brow over which their city was built, so they could thrown him down headlong. But he went out, passing through their midst.
And he went down to Capernaum, a Galilean city, and was teaching there on the Sabbaths. And they were astonished at his teaching, because his word was in power. And there was a man in the synagogue having an unclean demon, and he cried out with a great voice, saying, “Allow us! What to us and to you, Jesus Nazarene? You’ve come to destroy us. I know you, who you may be – God’s Holy One!”
And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Shut up, and come out of him!”
And when the demon had thrown him out in the midst, it went out of him, and nothing harmed him. And fear came to all, and they were talking with each other, saying, “What is this word? For he commands unclean spirits in power and strength, and they go out!”
And the rumor about him went out to every place in the region. But getting up from the synagogue, he went into Simon’s house. But Simon’s mother-in- law had a great fever, and they pleaded with him for her. And standing over her, he commanded the fever, and it left her. And getting up at once, she ministered to them.
But when the sun had set, all who had sick ones with various illnesses were leading them to him. And he, laying hands on each one, cared for them. But demons too were going out of many, crying out and saying that, “You are God’s Son.”
And rebuking, he didn’t permit them to speak, because they knew him to be Christ.
But day having come, going out, he went into a desert place. And the crowds were looking for him, and they came even to him. And they detained him, that he not go away from them. He said to them that, “It is necessary for me to proclaim the good news of God’s kingdom in other cities too, because I was sent for this.”
And he was preaching in Galilee’s synagogues.
Luke 5.
But it happened when the crowds were rushing in to him so they could hear God’s word, and he stood beside Gennesareth lake. And he saw two boats standing beside the lake, but the fishermen had come down and were washing nets. But going up into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from land and, sitting, he taught the crowds from the little boat But as he finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Lead us into the depth, and let down your nets to fish!”
And Simon, answering, said to him, “Teacher, we took nothing working through the whole night, but at your word, I will let down the net.”
And when they had done this, they closed in a great multitude of fish, but their net was breaking. And they motioned to their companions who were in the other boat, that they come and help them. And they came, and they filled both little boats, so that they were sinking. When Simon Peter had seen it, he threw himself to his knees before Jesus, saying, “Go
away from me, Lord, because I am a sinful man!”
For wonder had enveloped him and all those who were with him at the capture of fish that they had taken. But it was likewise with Jacob and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s companions. And Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From already you will be capturing men.”
And bringing the boats to land, leaving all, they followed him. And it happened when he was in one city, and look, a man was full of leprosy. And seeing
Jesus, and throwing himself on his face, he prayed him, saying, “Lord, if you want, you can cleanse me!”
And stretching out the hand, he touched him, saying, “I want. Be clean!”
And immediately the leprosy pulled away from him. And he commanded him that he tell no one, yet, “Go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing as Moses commanded in his testimony.”
But the word about him went around more, and many crowds came together so they could hear and be healed from their infirmities. But he went away into the desert and prayed. And it happened on one of those days, and he was sitting, teaching, there were also Pharisees and doctors of law sitting, who came from all Galilee’s towns, and Judea, and Jerusalem. And the Lord’s power was there for healing them. And look, men carrying on a bed a man who was paralyzed also sought him, to bring him and set him before him. And not finding which part they could bring him in because of the crowd, they climbed on the roof and let him down through the roof tiles with the bed, into the middle before Jesus. As he saw their faith, he said to the man, “Your sins are forgiven you.”
And the writers and Pharisees began to think, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins except God alone?”
But as Jesus knew their thoughts, he said, answering to them, “What are you thinking in your hearts? What is easier? To say, ‘Sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk!’? But so you may know that man’s Son has power to forgive sins on earth,” he said to the paralytic, “I say to you, get up, take your bed, and go to your house!”
And getting up at once before them, he took that in which he lay, and went out to his house, magnifying God. And wonder seized all, and they were magnifying God. And they were full of fear, saying that, “We’ve seen miracles today.”
And after this, he went out, and he saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me!”
And leaving all, getting up, he followed him. And Levi made a great feast for him in his house, and there was a great crowd of tax collectors and others who were reclining at table with them. And the Pharisees and their writers complained, saying to his disciples, “Why are you eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?”
And Jesus, answering, said to them, “Those who are well don’t need a healer, but those who have harm. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to penance.”
And they said to him, “Why do John’s disciples fast often and make prayers, and those of the Pharisees also – but yours are eating and drinking?”
He said to them, “You can’t make the groom’s sons fast while the groom is with them, can you? But days will come when the groom also will be taken away from them. Then they will fast, on that day.”
But he was telling this comparison to them also, that “No one puts a seam from a new garment into an old garment. Otherwise, it tears the old also, and the old seam doesn’t hold to the new. And no one puts new wine into old skins. Otherwise, the new wine tears the skins, and is poured out, and the skins are ruined. Yet new wine must be thrown into new skins, and both are preserved. And no one drinking the old immediately wants the new, for he says, ‘The old is better.’”
Luke 6.
But it happened in the second first Sabbath, when he was passing through a grain field, his disciples plucked heads of grain and ate, rubbing them together in their hands. But some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why are you doing what isn’t legal on the Sabbath?”
And Jesus, answering, said to them, “Haven’t you read this, what David did when he was hungry – he and those who were with him? How he went into God’s house, and took the loaves of propositions, and ate. And he gave to those who were with him – which was not legal to eat except for priests only.”
And he said to them that, “Man’s Son is master of the Sabbath, too.”
But it happened also on another Sabbath that he went into a synagogue and was teaching. And a man was there, and his right hand was shriveled. But the writers and Pharisees were watching if he would heal on the Sabbath, so they could find a reason to accuse him.
He indeed knew their thoughts, and he said to the man who had the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in the midst!”
And getting up, he stood. But Jesus said to them, “I ask you if it is legal to do good or harm on the Sabbath, to make a soul safe or to destroy it?”
And looking around at all, he said to the man “Stretch out your hand!”
And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored. But they were filled with foolishness, and they spoke to each other about what they might do to Jesus.
But it happened in those days he went out to a mountain to pray, and he was up all night in prayer to God. And when day had come, he called his disciples, and chose twelve from them, whom he named apostles: Simon, whom he had surnamed Peter, and Andrew his brother, Jacob and John, Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas, Jacob of Alpheus and Simon, who was called the Zealot; Judah of Jacob, and Judas Scarioth, who was a traitor.
And going down with them, he stood in a flat place, and a crowd of his disciples and a huge multitude of common people from all Judea, and Jerusalem, and seaside Tyre, and Sidon, who came so they could hear him, and be healed from their sicknesses. And those who were vexed by unclean breaths were cured. And all the crowds sought to touch him,
because power went out from him and healed
all.
And he, lifting up his eyes to his disciples, said,
“Blessed are the poor,
because God’s kingdom is yours.
Blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be filled.
Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
You will be blessed when men hate you, and when they separate you, and try you, and throw out your name as harmful for man’s Son’s sake. Rejoice on that day, and exult! For look, your reward is great in the sky, for their fathers worked in the same way with the prophets.
“Nevertheless,
Woe to you, rich,
because you have your consolation!
Woe to you who are full,
because you will hunger!
Woe to you who laugh now,
because you will mourn and weep!
Woe, when all men speak well about you.
Their fathers worked in this way with the prophets.
“Yet I say to you who are listening, delight in your enemies! Do well to those who hate you! Bless those cursing you! Pray for those accusing you falsely! To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer
the other also, and from him who takes away your coat, don’t forbid even your shirt.
“But give to all asking from you, and don’t demand repayment from one who takes away what are yours! And exactly as you want that men do to you,
you do likewise to them! And if you delight in those who delight in you, what grace is that to you? For even sinners delight in those delighting in them. And if you do well to those who do well to you, what grace is it to you? Even sinners do this. And if you give help to those from whom you hope to receive, what grace is it to you? For even sinners lend to sinners, so they can receive the same.
“Nevertheless, delight in your enemies, and bless, and give help, despairing of nothing. And your reward will be great, and you will be the Most High’s sons, because He is kind over the ungrateful and harmful. Therefore, be merciful as your Father also is merciful!
“Don’t judge, and you won’t be judged! Don’t condemn, and you won’t be condemned! Let go, and you will be let go of! Give, and it will be given you! A good measure, abounding and shaken together and overflowing, will be given into your lap. Indeed, it will be given to you in the same
measure that you measure.”
But he spoke a comparison to them also, “The blind can’t lead the blind, can they? Won’t both fall into a pit? A student isn’t above a teacher, but each will be complete, like his teacher. But why do you see the straw in your brother’s eye, but not consider the tree trunk in your own eye? And how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me pull the straw out of your eye,’ you not seeing the tree trunk in your own eye? Hypocrite! First throw the tree trunk from your own eye, and then you will see, so you can lead the straw out of your brother’s eye!
“For there is no good tree that makes bad fruit, or bad tree making good fruit, for each tree is known by it fruit. They don’t collect figs from thorns, or gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man brings out good from his heart’s good treasure, and a harmful man brings out harm from harm – for the mouth speaks from the heart’s abundance.
“But why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do what I say? Everyone who comes to me, and hears my words, and does them, I will show you who he is like. He is like a man building a house, who dug to the depth, and set the foundations on a
rock. But the flood coming, the flow struck against his house, and couldn’t move it – for it was founded on a rock.
“But who hears and does not do is like a man building his house on the ground, without a foundation. The flow struck against it, and it collapsed immediately, and that house’s ruin became great.”
Luke 7.
But when he had completed all his words in the people’s ears, he went into Capernaum. But a certain centurion’s slave, having a sickness, was dying – who was precious to him. And when he had heard about Jesus, he sent Jewish elders to him, praying him that he come and make his slave whole. And they, when they had come to Jesus, prayed him earnestly, saying to him that, “He is worthy that you provide this to him, for he loves our nation, and he built a synagogue for us.”
But Jesus was going with them and, while he was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I’m not worthy that you come under my roof. Because of this, I also did not judge myself worthy that I come to you. Yet say a word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man appointed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
Hearing this, Jesus wondered. And, turning to the crowds following him, he said, “Amen I say to you, I haven’t found such faith in Israel.”
And those who were sent, going back to the house, found the slave who was sick healed.
And it happened thereafter he was going into a city that is called Naim, and his disciples and a large crowd were going with him. But when he had come near the city’s gate, look, a dead man was being carried out, his mother’s only son, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord had seen her, moved to mercy over her, he said to her, “Don’t cry!”
And he came near and touched the coffin, but those who were carrying it stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!”
And the one who was dead sat up and began to speak, and he gave him to his mother. But fear took all, and they magnified God, saying that, “A great prophet has risen up among us,” and that,
“God has visited His people.”
And this word about him went out to all Judea, and all the surrounding region. And John’s disciples told him about all these things. And John called together two of his disciples, and sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is coming, or should we wait for another?”
But when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is coming, or should we wait for another?’”
But in that same hour, Jesus healed many from their illnesses and blows and harmful spirits, and gave sight to many blind people. And answering, he said to them, “Going, tell John what you have seen and heard – that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise again, the poor are told good news. And whoever is not scandalized by me is blessed.”
And when John’s messengers had gone away, he began to speak about John to the crowds. “What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed moved by the wind? Yet what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Look, those who are in precious clothing and luxuries are in kings’ houses. Yet what did you go out to see? A prophet? Certainly, I say to you – and more than a prophet! This is the one about whom it is written, ‘Look, I send My angel before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’
“For I say to you no prophet born of women is greater than John the Baptist. But who is least in God’s kingdom is greater than him.”
And all the people hearing and the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized by John’s baptism. But the Pharisees and those skilled in the law spurned God’s counsel in themselves, not
being baptized by him.
“To whom, then, will I compare this generation’s men, and to whom are they like? “They are like boys sitting in the market, and talking to each other, and saying, ‘We played pipes for you, and you didn’t dance. We grieved, and you didn’t cry.’
“For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ Man’s Son came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, the man is a glutton and wine drinker, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’
“Yet wisdom is justified by all her sons.”
But a certain man from the Pharisees prayed him that he eat with him, and, going into the Pharisee’s house, he reclined at table. And look, a woman who was in the city, a sinner, as she knew that he reclined at table in the Pharisee’s house, took an alabaster jar of ointment. And standing behind, beside his feet, she began to moisten his feet with tears. And she wiped them with her hair, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with ointment.
But the Pharisee who had called him, seeing this, spoke in himself, saying, “If this one was a prophet, he would know certainly who and what sort of woman this is who touches him, because she is a sinner.”
And Jesus, answering, said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”
And he said, “Speak, teacher.”
“There were two debtors of a certain lender. One owed five hundred days’ wages, the other fifty. Since they had nothing with which to pay, he forgave both. Who, then, will love him more?”
Answering, Simon said, “I reckon that the one to whom more was forgiven.”
And he said to him, “You’ve judged rightly.”
And turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “You see this woman. I came into your house. You didn’t give me water for my feet, but she has watered my feet with tears, and dried them with her hair. You didn’t give me a kiss, but since I came in, she hasn’t stopped kissing my feet. You didn’t anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.
“Because of this, I say to you many sins will be forgiven her, because she loved much. But he loves little to whom little is forgiven.”
But he said to her, “Sins are forgiven you.”
And those who were reclining together began to say inside themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
But he said to the woman, “Your faith has made you safe. Go in peace!”
Luke 8.
And it happened thereafter, and he was making a journey through city and town, preaching and telling good news of God’s kingdom, and the twelve were with him. And there were certain women, who were healed from malignant breaths and illnesses – Mary, who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Johanna, wife of Chuza, Herod’s procurator, and Susanna, and many others – who ministered to them from their abilities.
But when a large crowd had come together, and they had hurried to him from the cities, he said by comparison, “One who sows went out to sow his seed, and while he sowed, some fell along the road, and was trampled, and the sky’s birds ate it. And other fell on rock, and once born, it dried up, because it had no soil. And other fell among thorns, and the thorns, springing up together, choked it. And other fell on good ground, and sprouting, it made fruit a hundredfold.”
Saying this, he shouted, “Who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
But his disciples asked him what this parable was. He said to them, “It is given you to know the mystery of God’s kingdom. But to others all is in parables, so seeing, they may not see, and hearing, they may not understand. But this is the parable. The seed is God’s word. But those who are along the road are those who hear. Then the devil comes and takes the word from their heart, unless believing, they be made safe. Now those who are on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy. Yet these have no roots, who believe at a moment and pull away in a time of testing. But that which fell among thorns, these are those who have heard, yet the troubles and riches and lusts of life, coming, choke them, and they bear no fruit. But that which fell in good ground are those who, hearing the word in a good and noble heart, retain it, and they bring forth fruit in patience.
“But no one lighting a lamp covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed. Yet he puts it on a lamp stand, so those entering may see the light – for nothing is hidden that may not be made clear, and nothing concealed that may not be made known, and come into the open. See then how you hear! For who has, it will be given him, and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.”
But his mother and brothers came to him, and they couldn’t get near him because of the crowd. And it was told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.”
He, answering, said to them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear God’s word and do it.”
But it happened on one of those days, and he went up in a little boat with his disciples. And he said to them, “Let’s go across the lake.”
And they went up. But while they were sailing, he slept. And a strong wind came down the lake, and they were filled and in danger. But coming near, they roused him, saying, “Teacher, we’re dying!”
And he, getting up, rebuked the wind and the waters’ storm, and it ceased and became calm. But he said to them, “Where is your faith?”
They, fearing, wondered, saying to each other, “Who do you suppose this is, that even commands wind and sea, and they obey him?”
But they sailed to the Gerasenes’ region, which is across from Galilee. And when he had come to land, a certain man met him, who had already had a demon for a long time. And he was not dressed in clothes, nor did he stay in a house, but among the tombs. He, as he saw Jesus, fell before him, and, crying out in a great voice, said, “What to me and to you, Jesus, God Most High’s Son? I pray you that you not torture me!”
For he was commanding the unclean breath that it come out of the man. For many times it seized him, and he was bound by the keepers’ chains and fetters. And, breaking the chains, he was driven by the demon into the desert. But Jesus questioned him, saying, “What is a name to you?”
And he said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered into him.
And they prayed him that he not command
them that they go into the abyss. But a herd of many pigs was there, feeding on the mountain. And they prayed him that he permit them to go into the pigs, and he permitted them. So the demons went out of the man and went into the pigs, and the herd, driven, went out headlong into the lake and drowned. As those who kept the pigs saw what happened, they ran away and told it in the city and in the villages. But they went out to see what had happened. And they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out sitting at his feet, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. But those who had seen told them how he had been healed from the Legion. And all the multitude from the Gerasenes’ region prayed him that he go away from them, because they were held by a great fear.
But he, going up into the boat, went back. And the man from whom the demons had gone out prayed him that he might be with him. But Jesus let him go, saying,“Go back to your house, and tell how much God has done for you!”
And he went out through the whole city, proclaiming how much Jesus had done for him. But it happened when Jesus had returned, the crowd received him, for all were waiting for him. And look, a man whose name was Jairus came, and he was prince of the synagogue. And he fell at Jesus’ feet, praying him that he come to his house, because an only daughter was his, almost twelve years old, and she was dying. And it happened while he went, he was pressed by the crowds.
And a certain woman was in a flow of blood for twelve years, who had paid out all her substance to healers, yet had not been healed by any of them. She came near behind and touched his garment’s fringe, and immediately her flow of blood stood still. And Jesus said, “Who is it who touched me?”
But while all were denying it, Peter and those who were with him said, “Teacher, the crowd presses and afflicts you, and you say, ‘Who touched me?’”
And Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I know power went out of me.”
But the woman, seeing that she could not hide, came trembling and fell down before his feet. And she told before all the people why she had touched him, and how she immediately was healed. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you safe. Go in peace!”
While he was still speaking, one came to the synagogue prince, saying to him that, “Your daughter is dead. Don’t trouble him.”
But Jesus, hearing this word, answered the girl’s father, “Don’t be afraid! Only believe, and she will be saved!”
And when he had come to the house, he did not allow anyone to go in with him except Peter, and John, and Jacob, and the girl’s father and mother. But all were weeping and mourning her, and he said, “Don’t weep! She isn’t dead, yet she sleeps.”
And they mocked him, knowing that she was dead. But he, taking her hand, cried out, saying, “Girl, get up!”
And her breath came back, and she got up at once. And he commanded them to give her something to eat. And her parents were astounded, to whom he commanded that they tell no one what had
happened.
Luke 9.
But calling together the twelve apostles, he gave them strength and power over all demons, and that they heal illnesses. And he sent them to proclaim God’s kingdom and to heal the sick. And he said to them, “You will take nothing on the road – neither staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money – nor will you have two shirts. And in whatever house you enter, stay there, and don’t go out from there. And whoever will not receive you, going out of that city, shake even the dust from your feet as testimony over them!”
But going out, they went through the towns proclaiming good news and healing everywhere. But Herod the tetrarch heard all that was being done by him. And he hesitated, because it was being said by some that John had risen from the dead, by some indeed that Elijah had appeared, but by others that one of the ancient prophets had risen. And Herod said, “I beheaded John, but who is this about whom I hear such things?”
And he sought to see him. And the apostles, coming back, told him whatever they had done. And, taking them up, he went apart into a desert place, which is Bethsaida. When the crowds had known that, they followed him. And he received them, and spoke about God’s kingdom to them, and those who needed care he healed. But day had begun to decline, and the twelve, coming near, said to him, “Dismiss the crowds so, going into the towns and villages that are around, they can turn aside and find food, for we are here in a desert place.”
But he said to them, “You give them something to eat!”
And they said, “There aren’t more than five loaves and two fish with us, unless perhaps we go and buy food for all this crowd.”
But there were around five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, “Make them sit down by groups of fifties.”
And they did so, and they made all sit down. But Jesus, receiving the five loaves and two fish, looked into the sky, and blessed them. And he broke them and distributed them to his disciples, so they could place them before the crowds. And all ate and were full. And twelve baskets of fragments were taken up that were left over from them.
And it happened when he was alone, praying, the disciples also were with him. And he questioned them, saying, “Whom do the crowds claim me to be?”
And they answered and said, “John the Baptist.” But others said, “Elijah,” and others that, “One of the prior prophets has risen.”
But he said to them, “You, though, who are you claiming me to be?”
Simon Peter, answering, said “God’s Christ.”
And he, rebuking them, commanded that they not say this to anyone, saying, “It is necessary for man’s Son to suffer many things, and be rejected by elders, and priests’ princes, and writers, and be killed, and rise again the third day.”
But he was saying to all, “If someone wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take his cross daily, and follow me – for who wants to make his soul safe will lose her. Yet who loses his soul for my sake will save her.
“For what does it benefit man if he makes a profit out of all the world, but loses his soul, and he makes a loss of his own life? For who will be ashamed of me and my words, man’s Son will be ashamed of him when he comes in his power, and the Father’s, and the holy angels’.
“But I say to you truly, some are standing here who will not taste death until they see God’s kingdom.”
But it happened around eight days after these words, and he took Peter, and John, and Jacob, and he climbed up onto a mountain so he could pray. And it happened while he prayed, his face’s appearance changed, and his clothing was shining white. And look, two men were speaking with him – but they were Moses and Elijah, seen in majesty. And they were talking about his departure, which he would complete in Jerusalem.
Peter indeed, and those who were with him, were weighed down by sleep and, waking up, they saw his majesty, and the two men who stood with him. And it happened when they had gone away from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Teacher, it is good, we being here! And let us make three tents: one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah” – not knowing what he said.
But while he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them. And they were afraid, while they went into the cloud. And a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my chosen Son. Listen to him!”
And while the voice came, Jesus alone was found. And they were silent, and didn’t say anything to anyone in those days about what they had seen.
But it happened on the following day, while they went down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. And look, a man from the crowd cried out, saying, “Teacher, I pray you, look on my son – for he is the only one to me! And look, a breath grabs him, and he instantly shouts out, and it strikes and scatters him, with a frothing mouth, and it hardly stops tearing him apart. And I begged your disciples that they throw him out, and they couldn’t.”
But Jesus, answering, said, “O unfaithful and twisted generation, how long will I be with you, and suffer you? Bring your son here!”
And when he came near, the demon struck and scattered him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean breath, and healed the boy, and gave him back to his
father. But all were astounded at God’s greatness. And while all wondered at all that he was doing, he said to his disciples, “Put these words in your hearts, for man’s Son’s future is that he will be handed over into man’s hand.”
And they didn’t understand this word, and it was veiled before them that they not understand it, and they were afraid to question him about this word. But the thought entered among them who of them was greater. And Jesus, seeing their hearts’ thoughts, taking a boy, stood him beside him. And he said to them, “Whoever supports this boy in my name receives me. And whoever receives me, receives Him who sent me. Who is less among all of you, this one is greater.”
But John, answering, said, “Teacher, we saw someone throwing out demons in your name, and we wouldn’t let him, because he doesn’t follow with us.”
And Jesus said to him, “Don’t forbid him, for who isn’t against you is for you.”
But it happened while the days of his taking up were being completed, he also set his face so he could go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers before his arrival and, going, they went into a city of Samaritans, so they could stop there. And they wouldn’t receive him, because his face was going to Jerusalem. But when his disciples Jacob and John had seen, they said, “Lord, do you want us to say that fire should come from the sky and burn them up?”
And turning, he rebuked them, and they went to another town. But it happened while they were walking on the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and sky’s birds nests, but man’s Son has nowhere he can rest his head.”
But he said to another, “Follow me.”
And he said, “Lord, let me first go to bury my father.”
And Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their dead. You, though, go! Announce God’s kingdom!”
And another said, “I will follow you, Lord, yet first let me tell those who at home.”
And Jesus said to him, “No one putting his hand on a plow and looking back is fit for God’s kingdom.”
Luke 10.
But after this, the Lord designated seventy- two others, and he sent them by twos before his face, to every city and place where he himself would come. And he was saying to them, “The harvest indeed is great, but the workers few. So pray the harvest’s Lord that he send workers into the harvest! Go! Look, I send you like lambs among wolves. Don’t carry a wallet or bag or sandals, and you will salute no one on the road! In whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’
“And if peace’s son is there, your peace will rest over it. But if not, it will return to you. But stay in the same house, eating and drinking what things are with them – for the worker is worthy of pay. Don’t go from house to house. And in whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat what foods are set before you. And heal the sick who are in it, and say to them, ‘God’s kingdom has come near to you.’ And in whatever city you enter, and they won’t receive you, going out into its streets, say, ‘We wipe off among you even the dust of your city that sticks to us. Nevertheless, know this – that God’s kingdom has come near!’ I say to you that it will be easier for Sodom on that day than for that city.
“Woe to you, Corazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For it the mighty acts that were done among you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented, sitting in hair shirts and ashes! Nevertheless, it will be easier for Tyre and Sidon in judgment than for you! And you, Capernaum, lifted up even to the sky, you will be sunk even to the inferno.
“Who hears you, hears me, and who rejects you, rejects me. But who rejects me rejects Him who sent me.”
But the seventy-two came back with joy, saying, “Lord, even demons are subject to us in your name.”
And he said to them, “I saw Satan falling from the sky like lightning. Look, I’ve given you power to walk over snakes and scorpions, and over all the enemy’s strength – and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, don’t rejoice in this, that breaths are subject to you. But rejoice that your names are written in the skies!”
In that same hour, he exulted by Holy Spirit and said, “I confess to You, Father, Lord of sky and land, that You’ve hidden these from the wise and prudent, and revealed them to little ones – for so also, Father, it was pleasing before you. All things are handed over to me by my Father. And no one knows who the Son may be except the Father, and who the Father may be, except the Son, and those to whom the Son wants to reveal Him.”
And turning to his disciples, he said, “Eyes who see what you see are blessed, for I say to you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see, yet they haven’t seen, and to hear what you hear, yet they haven’t heard.”
And look, a certain skilled lawyer rose up, testing him and saying, “Teacher, doing what will I possess eternal life?”
And he said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read?”
He, answering, said, “You will delight in the Lord your God from all your heart, and from all your soul, and from all your strengths, and from all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”
And he said to him, “You answered rightly. Do this and you will live.”
But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
But Jesus, receiving him, said to the man, “A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho. And he fell among robbers, who even stripped him. And laying blows on him, they went away, leaving him half-alive. But it happened that a certain priest was going down the same road and, seeing him, he passed by. Likewise a Levite too, when he was beside the place and saw him, passed through.
“But a certain Samaritan, making the journey, came beside him. And seeing him, he was moved to mercy. And coming near, he bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. And placing him on his animal, he led him to a lodge, and conducted his care. And the following day, he took out two days’ wages, and gave them to the lodge-keeper. And he said, ‘Have care of him, and whatever you spend additionally, I will give you when I return.’
“Who of these three seems to you to have been neighbor to the one who fell among robbers?”
And he said, “The one who worked mercy with him.”
And Jesus said, “Go, and you do likewise.”
But it happened while he was going, and he entered into a certain town, and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And a sister was hers named Mary, who, even sitting beside the Lord’s feet, was listening to his word. But Martha bustled about, ministering to those around. She stood and said, “Lord, is it no care to you that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her, then, that she help me!”
And the Lord, answering, said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are concerned and troubled with many works. Yet one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen
the best part, which will not be taken from
her.”
And it happened when he was praying in a certain place, as he stopped, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, like John also taught his disciples.”
"And he said to them, “When you pray, say,
Father, may Your name be sanctified.
May Your kingdom come.
Give us our daily bread each day,
and forgive us our sins,
as we also forgive everyone owing us,
and don’t lead us to testing.”
And he said to them, “Who of you will have a friend, and he comes to him at midnight, and says to him, ‘Friend, loan me three loaves of bread, because my friend has come to me from the road, and I have nothing that I can put before him.’ And he, answering from inside, may say, ‘Don’t bother me! The door is already closed, and my boys are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give to you.’
“I say to you, even if he won’t give to him, getting up because he is his friend, yet because of his shamelessness he will get up and give him whatever he has need of. And I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks has received, and who seeks has found, and to one knocking, it will be opened.
“But who among you, if he asks a father for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? Or if he asks an egg, will stretch out a scorpion to him? So if you, when you are harmful, know to give good gifts to your sons, how much more will your Father give a good breath from the sky to those asking Him!”
And he was casting out a demon, and it was mute. And when he had cast the demon out, the mute man spoke, and the crowds admired him. But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the demons’ prince.”
And others, testing him, were seeking a sign from the sky from him. But he, as he saw their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a house against a house will fall. But if Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand – for you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub? But if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore,
they will be your judges. Yet if I cast out demons by God’s finger, God’s kingdom, setting out, has come among you.
“When a mighty man, armed, keeps his courtyard, those things that he possesses are in peace. But if one mightier than him, coming against him, overcomes him, he takes away all his arms in which he trusted, and divides his plunder. Who isn’t with me is against me, and who does not gather with me scatters.
“When an unclean breath goes out of a man, it walks through waterless places, seeking rest and finding none. It says, ‘I will go back to my house, from which I went out.’ And when it comes, it finds it swept with a broom. And then it goes and takes up seven other breaths, more worthless than itself. And going in, they live there, and that man’s ends are worse than his beginnings.”
But it happened while he was saying this, a certain woman from the crowd, lifting up her voice, said to him, “Blessed is the womb that carried you, and the breasts that you sucked!”
And he said, “Why not say, ‘Blessed are those who hear God’s word and keep it!’”
But he began to say to the crowds running together, “This generation is a worthless generation. It seeks a sign, and a sign will not be given to it, except Jonah’s sign. For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so man’s Son will be also to this generation. The south’s queen will rise up in judgment with this generation’s men and condemn
them, for she came from the earth’s ends to hear Solomon’s wisdom. And look, here is something greater than Solomon! Ninevite men will rise up in judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they acted out penance at Jonah’s preaching. And look, here is something greater than Jonah!
“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a hidden place, or under a bushel, yet on a lamp stand – so those going in may see light. Your body’s light is your eye. If your eye is simple, all your body will be lit up. But if it is worthless, even your body will be dark.
“Watch then, unless the light that is in you be shadows! If then all your body is lit up, not having any part of shadows, all will be light. And it will light you up like a shining lamp.”
And while he was speaking, a certain Pharisee begged him that he dine with him. And going in, he reclined at table. But the Pharisee began to say, thinking in himself, “Why hasn’t he washed before dining?”
And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean what is outside the cup and bowls, but what is inside of you is full of plunder and iniquity. Fools, didn’t the One who made what is outside also make that which is inside? Nevertheless, that remains to be done. Give alms and look, all things are clean to you!”
“Yet woe to you, Pharisees, for you tithe mint, and bitter herb, and every green, and you pass over judgment and God’s love! But you ought to have done this, and not omitted that. Woe to you, Pharisees, for your delight in the synagogue’s best seats, and salutations in the marketplace! Woe to you, for you are like tombs that aren’t obvious, and men walking on them do not know!”
But one of the lawyers, answering, said to him, “Teacher, saying this, you also make an insult against us.”
And he said, “And woe to you lawyers also, because you weigh men down with burdens that they cannot carry, and you do not touch the loads with one finger! Woe to you, for you build the prophets’ tombs, but your fathers killed them! From the start you testify that you approve your fathers’ works, for they indeed killed, but you build their graves. For this reason God’s wisdom also said, ‘I will send prophets and apostles to them, and
some of them they will kill and persecute’– that the blood of all the prophets which is poured out from the world’s beginning may be sought from this generation – from Abel’s blood, even to Zachariah’s
blood, who perished between the altar and sanctuary. So, I say to you, it will be required from this generation. Woe to you, lawyers, for you’ve taken knowledge’s key! You yourselves haven’t gone in, and those who were going in you prohibited.”
When he had said these things to them, the Pharisees and lawyers began to press him gravely, and oppress his mouth about many things, laying traps and seeking to take something from his mouth, so they could accuse him.
Luke 12.
But many crowds were standing around, so that they trampled on each other. He began to say to his disciples, “Beware of the Pharisees’ yeast, which is hypocrisy. But nothing is covered up that may not be uncovered, nor hidden that may not be made known – for what you’ve spoken in shadows will be
told in the light, and what you’ve whispered in the ear in bedrooms will be preached from the rooftops.
“But I say to you, my friends, don’t be terrified by those who kill the body and, after this, have nothing more that they can do. But I will show you whom you ought to fear. Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to throw into Gehenna! So I say to you, fear Him!
“Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is in oblivion before God. Yet even your head’s hairs – all are numbered. So don’t be afraid! You are much more than sparrows.
“But I say to you, each one, whoever will confess me before men, man’s Son will also confess him before God’s angels. But who denies me before men will be denied before God’s angels. But each one who says a word against man’s Son, it will be forgiven him. But to him who blasphemes against Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.
“But when they bring you into synagogues, and to officials and powers, don’t be worried in what way or how you can answer, or what you may say – for Holy Spirit will teach you in that hour what you ought to say.”
But one from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, say to my brother that he divide the inheritance with me!”
And he said to him, “Man, who appointed me a judge or divider over you?”
And he said to them, “Watch and beware of every greed! For the abundance of anyone’s life is not from those that he possesses.”
But he spoke a comparison to them, saying, “The field of a certain rich man brought forth rich fruit. And he considered inside himself, saying, ‘What can I do, for I don’t have a place where I may gather my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this. I will tear down my barns and make larger ones. And I will gather there all that have grown up to me and all my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many goods laid aside for many years. Rest, eat, drink, and feast!’
“But God said to him, ‘Fool, this night they demand your soul back from you. But what you have prepared, whose will it be?’ So is one who makes treasures for himself, and is not rich in God.”
And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I say to you, don’t be anxious about the soul, what you will eat, or about the body, what you will wear. The soul is more than food, and the body more than clothing.
Consider the crows, for they neither sow nor reap, to whom is neither cellar nor barn – and God feeds them! How much more you are than them!
“But who of you, plotting, can add one cubit to his height If then you can’t do even that which is least, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider lilies, how they grow! They don’t labor. They don’t weave. But I say to you not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of them.
“But if God so clothes grass that today is in the field, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more you, you of little faith! And you, don’t seek what you will eat, or what you will drink, and don’t be made proud! For all the world’s nations seek these, but your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek God’s kingdom, and all these will be added to you!
“Don’t be afraid, little flock, for it was pleasing to your Father to give you the kingdom! Sell what you have, and give alms! Make yourselves bags that don’t grow old, treasure in the skies that doesn’t fail, where a thief cannot come near, nor a moth eat up, for where your treasure is, there your heart will be too.
“Let your waists be covered and lamps burning! And you be like men waiting for their lord, when he comes back from a wedding, so when he comes and knocks, they may open immediately to him. Those slaves are blessed who, when the lord comes, he finds them watching. Amen I say to you that he will dress himself, and make them recline at table, and going, he will minister to them. And if he comes in the second watch, or if he comes in the third watch, and finds them so, those slaves are blessed.
“But know this, that if the head of family had known at what hour the thief would come, he surely would have watched, and would not have let his house be broken into. And you, be ready – for man’s Son comes at an hour you do not consider!”
But Peter said to him, “Lord, are you saying this parable to us or also to all?”
But the Lord said, “Who do you consider is a faithful and prudent manager, whom the lord will appoint over his family, so he may give them wheat by measure in season? That slave is blessed whom, when the lord comes, he finds him doing so. I say to you truly that he will appoint him over all that he possesses. Yet if that slave says in his heart, ‘My lord makes a delay in coming,’ and he begins to beat the servants and slave women, and to eat and drink and be drunk – that slave’s lord will come on a day when he doesn’t expect, and an hour that he doesn’t know. And he will divide him, and set his portion with the faithless.
“But that slave who knows his lord’s will, and doesn’t prepare, and doesn’t work according to his will, he will be beaten much. But who hasn’t known, and has done things worthy of blows, will be beaten by few blows. But to whom much is given, much will be sought from him, and to whom they have entrusted much, much more will be demanded from him.
“I’ve come to throw fire on the land, and how I wish it were kindled! “But I have a baptism to be baptized in, and how I am hemmed in even while it is completed! Do you think that I’ve come to give peace in the land? No, I tell you, but separation! For from this moment five will be in one house, divided three against two, and two against three. They will be divided: father against son and son against his father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”
But he was also saying to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising from the west, you immediately say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and it happens so. And when there is a south wind you say that, ‘It will be hot,’ and it happens. Hypocrites! You’ve known to test land and sky’s face, but how haven’t you tested this season?
“But why will you not judge what is fair even about yourselves? But when you are going on the road with your adversary to the prince, give work to be freed from him – unless he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you to the exactor, and the exactor throw you in jail. I say to you, you will not go out from there until you have repaid even the last penny!”
Luke 13.
But some were present at that time, telling him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate mixed with their sacrifices. And answering, he said to them, “Do you think that these Galileans were sinners more than all the Galileans because they suffered such things? No I say to you, yet unless you have penance all will likewise perish. Like those eighteen on whom the tower fell in Siloam and killed them – do you think that they were debtors more than all men living in Jerusalem? No I say to you. Yet if you do not act out penance, all will perish likewise.”
But he told them this comparison. “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard. And he went, seeking fruit from it, and found none. So he said to the vineyard keeper, ‘Look, three years I’ve come seeking fruit from the fig tree, and I don’t find it. Cut it down, then! Why even let it occupy the ground?’ And he, answering, said to him, ‘Lord, let it go this year too, even while I dig around it and put in dung. And if indeed it makes fruit, good. But if not, you will cut it down in the future.’”
But he was teaching in their synagogue on the Sabbaths. And look, there was a woman who had a breath of infirmity for eighteen years. And she was bent down, nor could she look up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her to him and said to her, “Woman, you are released from your infirmity.”
And he laid hands on her, and she immediately stood erect. And she glorified God.
But the synagogue ruler, answering, was indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath. He was saying to the crowd, “There are six days in which it is necessary to work. Come in these, then, and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day!”
But the Lord responded to him, and he said, “Hypocrites! Don’t each of you untie his ox or donkey from the feed stall, and lead him to water on the Sabbath? But must this daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound, look, eighteen years, not be
loosed from this chain on the Sabbath day?”
And when he had said this, all his adversaries were ashamed, and all the people rejoiced in all that had been done gloriously by him. So he said, “What is God’s kingdom like, and to what likeness will I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that a man took, throwing it in his garden. And it grew and became a great tree, and sky’s birds rested in its branches.”
And he said again, “To what likeness will I compare God’s kingdom? It is like yeast that a woman, receiving, hid in three measures of wheat, until all leavened.”
And he was going through cities and towns, teaching and making the journey to Jerusalem. But someone said to him, “Lord, are there few who may be saved?”
But he said to them,“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, seek to enter and cannot. But when the head of family has entered and closed the gate, and you begin to stand
outside and to knock at the gate, saying, ‘Lord, open to us!’ And answering, he will say to you, ‘I don’t know you. Where are you from?’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank before you, and you taught in our streets.’ And he will say to you, ‘I don’t know you. Where are you from? Go away from me, all you workers of iniquity!’
“There will be weeping and grinding of teeth in that place, when you see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in God’s kingdom, but you expelled outside. But they will come from east, and west, and north, and south, and recline together in God’s kingdom. And look, there are last ones who will be first, and first ones who will be last.”
On that day, some of the Pharisees came near, saying to him, “Go out and leave here, because Herod wants to kill you!”
And he said to them, “Go, tell that fox: ‘Look, I throw out demons and perform healings today and tomorrow, and the third day I will be perfected.’
“Nevertheless, it is necessary for me to walk today, and tomorrow, and the day following, for it can’t happen that a prophet die outside Jerusalem. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill prophets and stone those who are sent to you, how often I wanted to gather your sons together, as a bird gathers her nest under wings, and you wouldn’t.
“Look, your house is abandoned to you. But I say to you that you will not see me until the time comes when you say ‘Blessed is he who comes in the Lord’s name!’”
Luke 14.
And it happened when he had gone into the house of a certain Pharisaic prince to eat bread on a Sabbath, and they were watching him. And look, a certain man with dropsy was before him. And Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it legal to care on the Sabbath?”
And they were silent. But he, taking the man, healed him and let him go. And answering, he said to them, “Whose donkey or ox of yours will fall into a hole, and he won’t immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?”
And they couldn’t respond to him over this. But he told a parable to those invited, seeing how they chose the prime seats, saying to them,“When you are invited to a wedding, don’t sit in the best place, unless perhaps someone more worthy than you be invited by him. And he who invited both you and him, coming, may say to you, ‘Give place to this one,’ and then you’ll begin to take the last place with shame. Yet when you are called, go, recline in the last place, that when he who invited you comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, come up above.’ Then there will be glory to you before all those reclining together. For everyone who lifts himself up will be humbled, and who humbles himself will be lifted up.”
But he was saying also to the one who invited him, “When you make a dinner or supper, don’t call your friends, or your brothers, or kin, or rich neighbors, unless they also inviteyou in turn, and recompense be made to you. Yet when you make a feast, call the poor, weak, lame, blind, and you will be blessed, because they have nothing to pay you back with. For it will be repaid to you in the resurrection of the just.”
When one of those reclining at table together heard this, he said to him, “One who will eat bread in God’s kingdom is blessed!”
And he said to him, “A certain man made a great supper, and invited many. And he sent his slave at the supper hour to say to the invited that they come, for all things were already prepared. And all began to make excuses at once. The first said to him, ‘I bought a farm, and I need to go and see it. I pray you, have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m going to check them out. I pray you, have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I married a wife, and therefore I can’t come.’ And the slave, coming back, told this to his lord. Then the head of family, angry, said to his slave, ‘Go quickly to the city’s streets and alleys, and bring the poor, and weak, and blind, and lame here!’ And the slave said, ‘Lord, it is done as you ordered, and there is still room.’ And the lord said to the slave, ‘Go out to the roads and fences, and make them come in, so my house may be full! But I say to you that none of those men who were called will taste my supper.’”
But many crowds were going with him and, turning, he said to them, “If someone comes to me, and does not hate his father, and mother, and wife, and sons, and brothers, and sisters – yet even his own soul – he cannot be my disciple. And who does not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For who among you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and count the costs that are needed, if he has enough to finish – unless after he has set the foundations and can’t finish it, all who see may mock him, saying that, ‘This man began to build, and couldn’t complete.’ Or what king, going to make war against another king, doesn’t sit down first and consider if he, with ten thousand, can meet
him who comes against him with twenty thousand. Otherwise, while the other is still far away, sending a delegation, he may beg those things that will make peace. So then all of you who do not renounce all that you possess cannot be my disciple.
“Salt is good, but if the salt likewise weakens, how can it be salted? It isn’t useful on the ground or in the dunghill, yet is thrown out. Who has ears for hearing, let him hear!”
But tax collectors and sinners were coming near him, so they could hear him. And Pharisees and writers complained, saying that, “This one receives sinners and eats with them.”
And he spoke this parable to them, saying, “What man of you who has a hundred sheep, and if one of them is lost, won’t leave the ninety-nine in the desert, and go after the one who was lost until he finds her? And when he finds her, he puts her on his shoulders, joyful. And coming to the house, he calls together friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Be happy for me, because I found my sheep that was lost!’ I say to you that so there will be joy in heaven over one sinner having penance, than over ninety-nine righteous ones who need no penance.
“Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin won’t light a lamp, and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she finds? And when she has found it, she calls together friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Be happy for me, because I found the coin that I lost!’ So I say to you there will be joy before God’s angels over one sinner acting out penance.”
But he said, “A certain man had two sons. And the younger of the two said to the father, ‘Father, give me the portion of the wealth that touches me!’ And he divided the wealth to him. And after not many days, gathering all together, the younger son set out to go into a far country, and he wasted his wealth there, living luxuriously. And after all had been spent, a strong hunger happened in that country, and he began to be in need. And he went out and joined to one of that country’s citizens, and he sent him to his farm so he could feed pigs. And he wanted to fill his gut with the pods that the pigs were eating, and no one gave him anything.
“But coming back to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have more than enough bread, but I’m dying here of hunger! I’ll get up and go to my father, and I’ll say to him, Father, I’ve sinned against heaven and before you. And now I’m not worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired hands!’ And getting up, he came to his father. But when he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved to mercy. And running, he fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I’ve sinned against heaven and before you. Now I’m not worthy to be called your son.’
“But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and dress him, and give a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet! And bring out the fattened calf, and kill it, and let us eat and dine well! For this son of mine was dead, and has revived. He was lost, and is found!’ And they began to feast.
“But his older son was in the field, and when he had come and drawn near the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the slaves, and questioned him what this was. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he received him safe.’ But he was indignant and wouldn’t go in. So his father, going out, began to beg him. And he, answering, said to his father, ‘Look, how many years I serve you, and I’ve never gone beyond your commandment, and you’ve never given me a young goat so I could feast with my friends. Yet after this son of yours who devoured his wealth with whores came, you killed the fattened calf for him!’
“And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all mine are yours. But it is necessary to feast and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead, and has revived. He was lost, and is found.’”
Luke 16.
But he was saying to his disciples, “There was a certain man who had a manager, and he was slandered with him as if he had wasted his goods. And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your service, for you can no longer manage my goods!’
“But the manager said in himself, ‘What can I do, because my lord takes the management away from me? I’m not strong enough to dig. I’m ashamed to beg. I know what I can do, so when I’m removed
from my management they may accept me into their houses.’“So, calling each one of his lord’s debtors, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my lord?’ And he said, ‘A hundred jars of oil.’
“And he said to him, ‘Take your pledge, and sit down quickly. Write fifty!’ Afterwards, he said to another, ‘You, indeed, how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred chores of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your papers and write eighty!’
“And the lord praised the treacherous manager because he had acted prudently – for this age’s children are more prudent than light’s children in their generation.
“And I say to you, make yourselves friends from treacherous mammon, so when you falter, they may receive you into eternal dwellings. Who is faithful in a little is also faithful in much, and who is treacherous in small matters is treacherous in large matters too. If then you haven’t been faithful in treacherous mammon, who will entrust what is true to you? And if you haven’t been faithful in a stranger’s goods, who will give you what is yours?”
“No slave can serve two lords, for he will either hate one and love the other, or stick to one and despise the other. You can’t serve God and mammon.”
But the Pharisees, who were greedy, heard all these words, and they mocked him. And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men. But God knows your hearts, because what is lofty with men is an abomination before God. The law and the prophets were even to John. Since him, God’s kingdom is proclaimed, and everyone works violence against it.
“Yet it is easier for sky and land to pass away than for one least letter to fall from the law. Each one who dismisses his wife and marries another commits adultery, and who marries one dismissed by a husband commits adultery.”
“There was a certain rich man, and he dressed in purple and scarlet, and feasted splendidly daily. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, who lay at his door, full of sores, wanting to be filled from the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Yet even the dogs came and licked his sores. But it happened that the beggar died, and he was carried by the angels to Abraham’s embrace. But the rich man also died, and he was buried in the inferno.
“While he was in torments, lifting up his eyes, he saw Abraham from far away, and Lazarus in his embrace. And he, shouting, said, ‘Father Abraham,
have mercy on me and send Lazarus, so he may dip his fingertip in water, so he can cool my tongue – for I’m in torment in these flames!’ And Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that you received good in your life, and Lazarus likewise bad. But now, he is consoled, and you indeed are tormented. And beyond all these, a great chasm is established between us and you, so those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can they pass from there to here.’
“And he said, ‘I beg you then, father, that you send him to my father’s house,‘for I have five brothers! And he can testify to them, that they also may not come to this place of torments!’ And Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them hear them.’ And he said, “No, father Abraham, yet if someone goes to them from the dead, they will act out penance.’
“But he said to him, ‘If they won’t hear Moses and the prophets, they won’t believe if someone rises from the dead either.’”
Luke 17.
And he said to his disciples, “It is impossible that scandals not come, but woe to him by whom they come! It is better for him if a millstone were placed
around his neck, and he be thrown into the sea, than that he scandalize one of these little ones.
“Look to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him. And if he acts out penance, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and he turns to you seven times in a day, saying, ‘It makes me sorry,’ forgive him.”
And the apostles said to the Lord, “Intensify faith for us!”
But the Lord said, “If you had faith like a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Pull yourself up by the roots, and plant yourself in the sea,’ and it would obey you. But who of you having a slave plowing or shepherding who comes back from the field, will say to him, ‘Come over at once! Sit down!’ And will not say to him, ‘Prepare what I will eat, and dress yourself, and minister to me until I eat and drink. And after this, you will eat and drink.’
“Will he have grace to that slave who does what was commanded him? I don’t think so. So you too, when you’ve done all that were commanded you, say, ‘We are useless slaves. We did what we ought to have done.’”
And it happened while he was going to Jerusalem, he passed through the middle of Samaria and Galilee. And when he was going into a certain town, ten leprous men who stood far off met him. And they lifted up the voice, saying, “Jesus, teacher, have mercy on us!”
As he saw them he said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests!”
And it happened while they were going they were cleansed. But one of them, as he saw that he was cleansed, turned back with a great voice, magnifying God. And he fell on his face before his feet, giving thanks – and he was a Samaritan. But Jesus, answering, said, “Weren’t ten cleansed? And where are the nine? Was no one found who would go back and give glory to God except this foreigner?”
And he said to him, “Get up. Go, because your faith has made you safe.”
But questioned by Pharisees when God’s kingdom comes, he answered them and said, “God’s kingdom does not come with observation, nor will they say, ‘Look, here,’ or ‘Look, there’ – for look, God’s kingdom is within you.”
And he said to the disciples, “Days will come when you long to see one of man’s Son’s days, and you won’t see. And they will say to you, ‘Look, here, look there.’ Don’t go, and don’t follow. For as lightning flashing from under the sky will shine in all things that are under the sky, so man’s Son will be in his day. “But first it is necessary for him to suffer many things, and be rejected by this generation.
“And as it happened in Noah’s, so will it be also in man’s Son’s days. They were eating and drinking, marrying wives and being given in marriages, even to the day when Noah went into the ark. And the flood came and destroyed all – as it happened likewise in Lot’s days. They were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day when Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and sulphur from the sky, and destroyed all.
“It will be like this on that day when man’s Son will be revealed. In that hour, let who is on the roof, and his vessels in the house, not go down to take them, and let who is in the field likewise not turn back. “Remember Lot’s wife! Whoever wants to save his soul will lose it, and whoever loses it will make it alive.
“I say to you, that night two will be in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. Two will be grinding in one place. One will be taken and the other left. Two will be in a field. One will be taken and the other left.”
Answering, they said to him, “Where, Lord?”
He said to them, “Wherever the body is, there the eagles will gather.”
Luke 18.
But he was speaking this parable also to them, that it is necessary always to pray and not falter, saying, “There was a certain judge in a certain city, who neither feared God nor respected man. But a certain widow was in that city, and she was coming to him, saying, ‘Vindicate me against my adversary!’ Yet he wouldn’t for a long time. But after this, he said inside himself, ‘Even if I don’t fear God or respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will vindicate her, unless she, coming, humiliate me in the end.’”
But the Lord said, “Hear what the treacherous judge says! Yet will God not work His chosen’s vindication, crying out to Him day and night? And will He have patience among them? I say to you that He will quickly work their vindication. Nevertheless, man’s Son coming, do you think he will find faith in the land?”
But he spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves as righteous, and scorned others. “Two men went up to the temple so they could pray – one a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing, prayed this in himself. ‘God, I give thanks to You that I am not like other men: plunderers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice in the Sabbath. I give tenths of all that I have.’ And the tax collector, standing far off, wouldn’t even lift eyes to the sky. Yet he was striking his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
“I say to you this one went down to his house justified over the other, for everyone who exalts himself will be humiliated, and who humbles himself will be exalted.”
But they were bringing even babies to him, so he could touch them. When his disciples had seen that, they rebuked them. But Jesus, calling them together, said, “Let the children come to me, and don’t forbid them, for of such is God’s kingdom. Amen I say to you, whoever won’t receive God’s kingdom like a child will not enter into it.”
And a certain prince questioned him, saying, “Good teacher, doing what will I possess eternal life?”
But Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You’ve known the commandments.
Don’t kill.
Don’t commit adultery.
Don’t work theft.
Don’t speak false testimony.
Honor your father and mother.”
He said, “I’ve kept all these from my youth.”
Hearing which, Jesus said to him, “One thing is still lacking to you. Sell all, whatever you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in the sky. And come, follow me!”
He, hearing these words, was sad, because he was very rich. But Jesus, seeing him made sad, said, “How hard it is for those who have money to go into God’s kingdom! It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for the rich to enter into
God’s kingdom.”
And those who heard him said, “And who can be saved?”
He said to them, “What are impossible with men are possible with God.”
But Peter said to him, “Look, we’ve left all and followed you.”
He said to them, “Amen I say to you, there is no one who has left house, or parents, or brothers, or wife, or sons, for God’s kingdom, and may not receive much more in this time, and in the coming age eternal life.”
But Jesus took up the twelve, and he said to them, “Look, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that were written by the prophets about man’s Son will be completed – for he will be handed over to nations, and mocked, and beaten, and spit on. And after they have beaten him, they will kill him, and he will rise the third day.”
And they understood none of these, and this word was hidden from them, and they didn’t understand what he was saying.
But it happened when they came near Jericho, a certain blind man was sitting beside the road, begging. And when he heard the crowd passing by, he was asking what this was. But they said to him that Jesus Nazarene was passing by. And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, David’s Son, have mercy on me!”
And those who were passing rebuked him, that he shut up. He, though, cried out much more, “David’s Son, have mercy on me!”
But Jesus, stopping, commanded him to be brought to him. And when he had come near, he asked him, saying, “What do you want for yourself that I
can do?”
And he said, “Lord, that I can see!”
And Jesus said to him, “See! Your faith has made you safe.”
And he immediately saw, and he followed him, magnifying God. And all the people as it saw gave praise to God.
Luke 19.
And going in, he passed through Jericho. And look, there was a man named Zacchaeus, and he was a prince of tax collectors, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus, who he was, and he couldn’t because of the crowd, because he was of small stature. And running ahead, he climbed into a sycamore tree so he could see him, because he was passing by from there.
And when he had come to the place, Jesus, looking, saw him. And he said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, because it’s necessary for me to stay in your house today!”
And hurrying, he came down and received him, rejoicing. And when they had seen, all complained, saying that he had turned aside to a sinful man. But Zacchaeus, standing up, said to the Lord, “Look, I give half of my goods to the poor, and if I’ve cheated anyone of anything, I repay it fourfold.”
Jesus said to him that, “Today, security has come to this house, because he also may be Abraham’s son – for man’s Son came to seek and make safe what is lost.”
Adding this to those hearing, he spoke a parable because he was near Jerusalem, and because they were thinking that God’s kingdom would be manifested quickly. So he said, “A certain nobleman went to a far away country to receive a kingdom for himself and come back. But calling ten of his slaves, he gave them ten minas, and he said to them, ‘Do business while I go.’
“But his citizens hated him, and they sent a mission after him, saying, ‘We don’t want this one to reign over us.’ And it happened as he returned, the kingdom received, he also commanded the slaves to
whom he gave money be called, so he could know how much each one had traded.
“But the first came, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has acquired ten minas.’ And he said, ‘Well done, good slave! Because you were faithful in a little, you will
be having power over ten cities.’
“And another came, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’ And to him he said, ‘And you will be over five cities.’
“And the other came, saying, ‘Lord look. Here is your mina, that I have put away in a napkin,“for I feared you – because you are an austere man, taking what you didn’t put down, and reaping what you didn’t sow.’ He says to him, ‘I will judge you from your own mouth, worthless slave! You knew that I am an austere man, taking what I didn’t put down, and reaping what I didn’t sow. And why didn’t you give my money at the banker’s table, and I, coming, at least could have measured it with interest?’
“And he said to those standing around, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has ten minas!’ And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas.’ But I say to you that to each having, it will be given. But from one who does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.
“‘Nevertheless, bring my enemies here, those who didn’t want me to reign over them, and kill them before me!’”
And having said these things, he went on, going up to Jerusalem. And it happened when he had come near Bethfage and Bethany, to the mountain that is called Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying, “Go into the town that is across, entering which you will find a donkey’s colt tied, on which no man has ever sat. Untie it, and bring it. And if someone asks you, ‘Why are you untying him,’ you will speak so to them: ‘Because the Lord desires its work.’”
But those who were sent went out, and they found the colt standing, as he said to them. But while they untied the colt, its masters said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?”
And they said, “Because the Lord has need of him.”
And they led him to Jesus and, laying down their garments, they set Jesus on the colt. But while he was going, they spread out their garments on the road. And when he had already come near to the descent from the Mount of Olives, all the crowds, hearing, began to praise God in a great voice, rejoicing over all the mighty acts that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the king who comes in the Lord’s name! Peace in the sky, and glory in the highest!”
And some of the Pharisees from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
He said to them, “I say to you that if these are silent, the stones will cry out.”
And as he came near, seeing the city, he wept over it, saying that, “If only you had known, even indeed in this your day, what made for peace to you! But now they are hidden from your eyes, for days will come to you, and your enemies will build around you with a wall, and will surround you, and will cramp you from all sides. They will throw you and your sons who are with you to the ground, and they will not leave in you a stone on a stone – because you have not known your visitation’s season.”
And going into the temple, he began to throw out those selling in it, and those buying, saying to them, “It is written that, ‘My house is a house of prayer, but you’ve made it a cave of robbers.’”
And he was teaching daily in the temple. But the priests’ princes, and the writers, and the people’s princes sought to destroy him. And they were not finding what they could do to him, for all the people was in suspense, hearing him.
Luke 20.
And it happened on one of the days, while he was teaching and proclaiming good news in the temple, the priests’ princes and writers came together with the elders. And they spoke to him, saying, “Tell us in what authority you do this, or who is it who gave you this authority?”
But answering, he said to them, “I’ll ask you a word too. Answer me! Was John’s baptism from the sky, or from men?”
And they considered among themselves, saying that, “If we say, ‘From the sky,’ he will say, ‘So why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ the whole people will stone us, for they are sure John was a prophet.”
And they said they did not know where it was from. And Jesus said to them, “Nor do I tell you in what authority I do this.”
But he began to tell this parable to the people. “A man planted a vineyard, and settled tenants on it, and he was away for a long time. And he sent a slave to the cultivators in season, so they could give him some of the vineyard’s fruit. Beating him, they sent him away empty-handed. And he added to send another slave, but they also sent him away empty-handed, beating and working abuse on him. And he added to send a third, whom they threw out, also wounding him.
“But the vineyard’s lord said, ‘What can I do? I will send my beloved son. Perhaps they will respect him when they see him.’ When the tenants had seen him, they considered among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Let’s kill him, so the inheritance may be ours.’ And throwing him out of the vineyard, they killed him. What then will the vineyard’s lord do to them? He will come and destroy those tenants, and give the vineyard to others.”
Hearing which, they said to him, “May it never be!”
But he, looking at them, said, “Then what is this that is written? ‘The stone whom the builders rejected, this has been made into the cornerstone.’ Everyone who falls on this stone will be broken, but one on whom it falls will be crushed.”
And the priests’ princes and writers sought to lay hands on him at that hour, yet they feared the people, for they knew that he had spoken this comparison against them. And watching, they sent plotters who pretended to be fair, so they could capture him in word, and hand him over into the governor’s power and authority. And they questioned him, saying, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and do not favor a person, yet you speak God’s way in truth. Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?”
But considering their deceit, he said to them, “Why do you test me? “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?”
Answering, they said, “Caesar’s.”
And he said to them, “Then pay to Caesar what are Caesar’s, and to God what are God’s.”
And they couldn’t trap his word before the people and, wondering at his response, they were silent. But certain Sadducees, who deny there is a resurrection, came near and questioned him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote to us if anyone’s brother dies having a wife, and he was without sons, that his brother should receive her as wife, and raise up seed to his brother. So there were seven brothers, and the first took a wife, and died without sons. And the next took her, and he died without a son. And the third took, and likewise also all seven, and they didn’t leave seed, and they died. Last of all, the woman also died. In the resurrection, then, whose wife of them will she be? Indeed, the seven had her as wife.”
And Jesus said to them, “This age’s sons marry and are given in marriage. But those who will have it worthy of that age and of the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor take wives, for they can no longer die. For they are the angels’ equals, and are God’s sons, when they may be the resurrection’s sons.
“Yet that the dead rise Moses also showed at the bush, as he calls the Lord, ‘Abraham’s God, and Isaac’s God, and Jacob’s God.’ Yet He is not God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him.”
But some of the writers answering, said, “Teacher, you have spoken well.”
And they didn’t dare to question him further about anything. But he said to them, “How do they say Christ is David’s Son? Even David himself says in the book of Psalms,
The Lord said to my Lord,
‘Sit at My right hand,
‘until I set your enemies as your footstool.’
“David then calls him Lord, and how is he his
son?”
But with all the people listening, he said to his disciples,“Beware of writers who want to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the market, and prime seats in synagogues, and first chairs at feasts – who devour widows’ houses, pretending long prayers! These will receive greater damnation.”
Luke 21.
But looking on, he saw those who were rich throwing their gifts into the treasury. But he also saw a certain poor widow woman throwing in two small bronze coins. And he said, “Truly I say to you that this poor woman has put in more than all. For all these put in to God’s offerings out of what abounded to them, but she, out of what is lacking to her, put in all her living that she had.”
And to some saying about the temple that it was built of good stones and ornate gifts, he said, “These that you see, the days will come in which stone will not be left on stone that may not be destroyed.”
But they questioned him, saying, “Teacher, when will these be, and what sign when they begin to happen?”
He said, “See that you aren’t seduced, for many will come in my name, saying that, ‘I am, and the time has come near!’ Therefore, don’t go after them! But when you hear of battles and rebellions, don’t be terrified. These must happen first, yet the end is not at once.”
Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes in places, and diseases, and hungers, and terrors. And there will be great signs from the sky. Yet before all these, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, handing you over to synagogues and jailers, dragging you before kings and governors for my name’s sake.
“But it will touch you as testimony. So set it in your hearts not to consider in advance how you can answer, for I will give you mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries cannot resist or contradict.
“But you will be handed over by parents, and brothers, and kin, and friends, and they will cause some of you death,“and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake – yet not a hair from your head will perish. You will possess your souls in your patience.
“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by an army, know then that her desolation has come near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and those who in its midst go out, and those who are in the regions outside not go into her, because these are days of revenge, so all things that are written may be fulfilled.
“But woe to those pregnant and nursing in those days, for stress will be great in the land, and wrath to this people! And they will fall by the sword’s mouth, and be led captive to all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by nations until the nations’ seasons are completed. And signs will be in sun and moon and stars, and on earth the stress of nations before confusion, the sound of sea and waves, men wasting away for fear and expectation, that will come over all the world – for skies’ powers will be moved.
“And then they will see man’s Son coming in a cloud, with great power and majesty. But when these things begin to be, look up and raise your heads, for your redemption comes near!”
And he spoke this comparison to them: “See the fig tree and all trees! When they are already producing fruit from themselves, you know that Summer is near. So also you, when you see these happening, know that God’s kingdom is near. Amen I say to you that this generation will not go by until all these happen. Sky and land will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
“But take care for yourselves, unless perhaps your hearts be weighed down in drunkenness, and intoxication, and this life’s cares, and these days come over you quickly – for they will come like a snare over all who sit on the face of all the earth. So watch, praying all the time that you may be worthy to escape all these that are coming, and to stand before man’s Son!”
But he was teaching by day in the temple, and going out by night, he stayed on the mount that is called Olives. And all the people set out to him in the morning to hear him in the temple.
Luke 22.
But the feast day of unleavened bread drew near, which is called Passover. And the priests’ princes and writers were seeking how they could kill him, yet they feared the people. But Satan entered into Judas, who was called Scarioth, one of the twelve. And he went out and spoke with the priests’ princes and officials, how he could hand him over to them. And they were happy and agreed to give him money. And he promised, and he sought a chance that he could hand him over without crowds.
But the day of unleavened bread came, in which it was necessary to kill the Passover lamb. And he sent Peter and John, saying, “Go prepare the Passover for us, so we can eat.”
And they said, “Where do you want that we prepare?”
And he said to them, “Look, while you’re going into the city, a man carrying a jug of water will meet you. Follow him to the house where he enters. And you will say to the house manager, ‘The teacher says to you, Where is the lodging place where I can eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a great, furnished upper room. And you make ready there.”
But going in, they found it as he had said to them, and they prepared the Passover. And when the hour had come, he reclined at table, and the twelve apostles with him. And he said to them, “I’ve longed earnestly to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for I say to you that from this day I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in God’s kingdom.”
And taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take, and divide it among you, for I say to you that I will not drink from the vine’s fruit until God’s kingdom comes.”
And taking bread, he gave thanks, and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in to remember me.”
After he had eaten, he likewise took the cup too, saying, “This cup is a new testament in my blood, that is poured out for you.
“Nevertheless look, the hand of the one betraying me is with me at the table. And indeed man’s Son goes according to what is defined. Yet woe to that man by whom he is handed over!”
And they began to ask among themselves who it was among them who would do this. But an argument also happened among them over who of them seemed to be greater. But he said to them, “The nations’ kings dominate them, and those who have power over them are called well-doers. Yet no so with you, yet let who is greater among you be as younger, and let who goes first be as a servant. For who is greater? One who sits at table, or one who serves? Isn’t it one who sits at table? Yet I am in your midst as one who serves.
“But you are those who’ve remained with me in my trials. And I appoint to you as my Father appointed
to me – a kingdom, so you may eat and drink at my table in the kingdom, and sit on thrones judging Israel’s twelve tribes.”
But the Lord said, “Simon, Simon, look! Satan has demanded you all, so he could sift you like wheat. But I’ve prayed for you that your faith not fail. And you, when you turn back, strengthen your brothers!”
Simon said to him, “Lord, I’m ready to go with you to prison and to death.”
And he said, “I say to you, Peter, the rooster won’t sing today until you deny knowing me three times.”
And he said to them, “When I sent you without bag and wallet and shoes, nothing was lacking to you, was it?”
And they said, “Nothing.”
So he said to them, “Yet now, let who has a bag take it, and likewise a wallet, and let who does not have sell his shirt and buy a sword. For I say to you that what is written still must be fulfilled in me, and that, ‘He was considered among the unjust’ – for so those that are written about me have an end.”
And they said, “Lord, look! Here are two swords.”
And he said to them, “It is enough.”
And going out, he went according to custom to the Mount of Olives, but the disciples also followed him. And when he had come to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you not enter into testing!”
And he went away from them as far as a stone is thrown, and getting on his knees, he was praying, saying, “Father, if you want, take this cup from me! Nevertheless, let not my will but Yours be done.”
But an angel from the sky appeared to him, strengthening him, and, being in agony, he prayed wholeheartedly. And his sweat became like blood drops falling to the ground.
And when he had gotten up from prayer, and had come to his disciples, he found them sleeping before sadness. And he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up! Pray that you not enter into testing!”
While he was still speaking, look, a crowd came. And he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and he came near Jesus so he could kiss him. But Jesus said to him, “Judas, do you betray man’s Son with a kiss?”
But those who were around him, seeing what was going to happen, said to him, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?”
And one of them struck the slave of the priests’ prince, and cut off his right ear. But Jesus, answering, said, “Allow it even to here.”
And when he had touched his ear, he healed him. But Jesus said to those who had come to him, the priests’ princes, and temple officials, and elders, “Have you come out with swords and sticks, as if against a robber? You didn’t stretch out a hand against me when I was with you daily in the temple. Yet this is your hour, and the power of shadows.”
But seizing him, they led him to the house of the priests’ prince, and Peter followed far off. But while they were kindling a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sitting around it, Peter was in their midst. But when a certain handmaid had seen him sitting at the light, and thought she knew him, she said, “This one was with him too.”
And he denied him, saying, “Woman, I don’t know him.”
And after a little, another, seeing him, said, “You are from them too.”
Yet Peter said, “O man, I am not.”
And after an interval of around one hour, a certain other one affirmed it, saying, “Surely this one was with him too, for he’s a Galilean.”
And Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are saying.”
And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster sang. And the Lord, turning, looked at Peter, and Peter remembered the Lord’s word, as he said that, “Before the rooster sings, you will deny me three times.”
And going outside, Peter wept bitterly. And the men who held him were mocking him, beating him. And they blindfolded him, and struck his face, and questioned him, saying, “Prophesy! Who is it who struck you?”
And many others spoke, blaspheming against him. And as day came, the people’s elders, and the priests’ princes, and the writers came together, and they led him into their council, saying, “If you are Christ, tell us!”
And he said to them, “If I tell you, you won’t believe me. But if I also question, you won’t answer me or let me go. But from this moment, man’s Son will be sitting at the right hand of God’s power.”
But all said, “Then are you God’s Son?”
He said, “You say that I am.”
And they said, “Why do we still want testimony, for we ourselves have heard from his mouth!”
Luke 23.
And all their multitude, getting up, led him to Pilate. But they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this one undermining our nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, and claiming himself to be Christ the king.”
But Pilate questioned him, saying, “Are you the Jews’ king?”
And he, answering, said, “You say.”
But Pilate said to the priests’ princes and crowds, “I find no cause against this man.”
And they grew more intense, saying, “He provokes the people, teaching through all Judea, and beginning from Galilee as far as here.”
But Pilate, hearing Galilee, asked if the man was Galilean. And as he knew that he was under Herod’s power, he sent him to Herod, who also was in Jerusalem in those days. But Herod, seeing Jesus, was very glad, for he had wanted to see him for a long time, because he had heard much about him, and he was hoping to see some sign be done by him. But he questioned him by many words, and Jesus answered nothing to him. The priests’ princes and writers also were standing by, accusing him constantly. But Herod scorned and mocked him with his army, dressing him in a white robe, and he sent him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate became friends on that day, for they were enemies to each other before.
But Pilate, calling together the priests’ princes, and officials, and the people, said to them, “You offered this man to me as if turning the people away, and look, questioning him before you, I found nothing against this man from those things by which you accuse him. Yet neither has Herod, for I sent him to him, and look, nothing worthy of death was done by him. Therefore correcting, I will let him go.”
But he needed to release one to them on the feast day. But the whole crowd cried out together, saying, “Take this one, and release Barabbas to us!”
He was thrown in jail because of a certain sedition done in the city, and a murder. But Pilate again spoke to them, wanting to let Jesus go. And they shouted in response, saying, “Crucify! Crucify him!”
But he said to them a third time, “Why, for what harm has he done? I find no cause for death in him, so I will correct him and let him go.”
And they insisted with loud voices, demanding that he be crucified, and their voices grew more intense. And Pilate passed judgment to carry out their petition. So he released to them him who had beenthrown in jail because of murder and sedition, whom they asked. Jesus, indeed, he handed over to their will.
And when they were leading him, they seized a certain Cyrenian, Simon, coming from the countryside, and they set the cross on him to carry after Jesus. But a large crowd of people was following him, and women who were weeping and mourning him. But turning to them, Jesus said to them, “Jerusalem’s daughters, don’t weep over me, yet weep over yourselves and over your sons – for days will come in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the sterile, and the wombs that haven’t given birth, and the breasts that haven’t nursed.’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ For if they do these things in the wood’s greenness, what will happen in the dryness?”
But they were leading another two worthless men with him, so they could be killed. And after they came to a place that is called Calvary, they crucified him there with the bandits, one at the right and the other at the left. But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing!”
Indeed they cast lots, dividing his clothing. And the people stood by, waiting. And the princes with them derided him, saying, “He made others safe. Let him make himself safe, if he is Christ, God’s chosen!”
But the soldiers also were mocking him, coming near and offering him vinegar, saying, “If you are the Jews’ king, make yourself safe!”
But there was also a title written over him in Greek and Latin and Hebrew letters: “This is the Jews’ king.”
But one of those bandits who hung blasphemed him, saying, “If you are Christ, make yourself safe and us too!”
But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Don’t you fear God, that you are in the same damnation? And us indeed fairly, for we’ve received worthy of our acts – but this one has done no harm.”
And he was saying to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come to your kingdom!”
And Jesus said to him, “Amen I say to you, you will be with me today in paradise.”
But it was around the sixth hour, and shadows came in all the land even to the ninth hour. And the sun was hidden, and the temple’s veil was torn in the middle. And crying in a great voice, Jesus said, “Father, I commend my breath into your hands!”
And saying this, he died. But the centurion, seeing what had happened, glorified God, saying, “This man was just indeed.”
And all the crowd of those who stood together to watch the spectacle and saw what happened, went back, striking their chests. But all his acquaintances were standing far off, and the women who had followed him from Galilee, seeing these things. And look, there was a man named Joseph, who was a councilman, a good and fair man, (he had not consented to their counsel and actions) from Arimathea, a Judean city, who himself also was waiting for God’s kingdom. He came to Pilate, and asked for Jesus’ body. And taking him down, he wrapped him in fine linen, and set him in a carved-out tomb, in which no one had yet been placed. And it was preparation day, and the Sabbath was dawning.
But the women following, who had come with him from Galilee, saw the tomb and how his body was placed. And going back, they prepared spices and ointments, and were quiet indeed on the Sabbath, according to the commandment.
Luke 24.
But very early the first day of the Sabbath, they came to the tomb, carrying the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled back from the tomb. And going in, they did not find the Lord Jesus’ body. And it happened while they were troubled in mind about this, look, two men stood beside them in shining clothing. But when they were afraid and turned faces to the ground, they said to them, “Why are you looking for the living with the dead? He isn’t here, yet he has risen. Remember, he spoke such to you when he was still in Galilee, saying that, ‘It is necessary for man’s Son to be handed over into the hands of sinful men,
and be crucified, and to rise again the third day.’”
And they remembered his words. And going back from the tomb, they told all these to the eleven and to all the others. But it was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary of Jacob, and others who were with them, who were saying these things to the apostles. And these words seemed like a delusion before them, and they wouldn’t believe them. But Peter, getting up, ran to the tomb, and, leaning forward, he saw the linen cloth set alone. And he went out, wondering in himself what had happened.
And look, two of them were going that day to a town named Emmaus, that was a space of sixty stadia from Jerusalem. And they were talking to each other about all these things that had happened. And it happened while they were chatting and seeking among themselves, Jesus himself also, coming near, went with them. But their eyes were kept so they couldn’t recognize him.
And he said to them, “What are these words that you’re comparing with each other walking along, and you are sad?”
And one whose name was Cleopas, answering, said to him, “Are you only a stranger in Jerusalem, and haven’t you known what things have taken place in it these days?”
He said to them, “What?”
And they said, “About Jesus Nazarene, who was a man, a mighty prophet in work and word before God and all the people. And how our high priests and princes handed him over to death’s damnation, and they crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be Israel’s redeemer. And now, beyond all these, today is the third day that these have happened. Yet certain women among us also terrified us, who went to the tomb before light. And not finding his body, they came, claiming themselves to have seen a vision of angels, who claim him to live. And some among us went out to the tomb, and they found it so, as the women had said. Yet they didn’t see him.”
And he said to them, “O fools, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Wasn’t it necessary for Christ to suffer these things, and so to enter into his glory?”
And beginning from Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them all the scriptures that were about him. And they came near the town where they were
going, and he made as if to go farther. And they urged him, saying, “Stay with us, because evening comes and the day has already declined.”
And he went in with them. And it happened while he reclined at table with them, he took bread, and blessed, and broke, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him, and he vanished before their eyes. And they said to each other, “Wasn’t our heart burning in us while he spoke on the way and opened the scriptures to us?”
And getting up that same hour, they went back to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven gathered, and those who were with them, saying that, “The Lord really has risen, and he appeared to Simon.”
And they told what had happened on the road, and how they had known him in the breaking of bread. But while they are saying these things, Jesus stood in their midst. And he says to them, “Peace be with you. I am. Don’t be afraid!”
Yet troubled and terrified together, they thought themselves to see a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and do thoughts rise up in your hearts? See my hands and feet, that I am myself! Feel, and see that a spirit has no flesh and bones, as you see me to have!”
And when he had said this, he showed them hands and feet. But while they still disbelieved and wondered because of joy, he said, “Do you have anything here that can be eaten?”
And they offered him a portion of roasted fish, and a honeycomb. And when he had eaten before them, taking up the rest, he gave them to them.
And he said to them, “These are the words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that it is necessary to fulfill all that are written about me in Moses’ law, and the prophets, and the psalms.”
Then he opened the sense to them, so they could understand the scriptures. And he said to them that, “It was written so, and it was necessary for Christ to suffer so, and to rise again from the dead the third day, and penance and forgiveness of sins to be preached in his name among all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
“But you are witnesses of these things, and I send my Father’s promise among you. Yet you, stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high!”
But he led them outside to Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. And it happened while he blessed them, he went away from them, and was carried into the sky. And they, worshiping, went back to Jerusalem with great joy. And they were always in the temple, praising and blessing God.
Amen
Acts 1. I made the first discourse, indeed, O Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and to teach, even to the day when, commanding the apostles he had chosen through Holy Spirit, he was taken up – to whom also he provided himself alive after his suffering in many demonstrations, appearing to them through forty days, and speaking about God’s kingdom.
And eating together, he commanded them that they not leave Jerusalem, yet wait for the Father’s promise, “which He promised through my mouth – for John indeed baptized by water, but you will be baptized by Holy Spirit, not many days after these.”
Therefore, those who had come together questioned him, saying, “Lord, will you restore Israel’s kingdom at this time?”
But he said to them, “It isn’t yours to know the times or moments that the Father has appointed in His power. Yet you will receive power from Holy Spirit coming over you, and you will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the earth’s end.”
And when he had said these things, while they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their eyes. And while they were staring into the sky, him going, look! Two men stood beside them in white clothing, who also said, “Galilean men, why are you standing looking into the sky? This Jesus who was taken from you this way into the sky will come the same way you have seen him going into the sky.”
Then they went back to Jerusalem from the mountain that is called Olives, which is beside Jerusalem, having a Sabbath’s journey distance. And when they had come in, they went up to the upper room where they were staying – Peter and John, Jacob and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, Jacob of Alpheus, and Simon Zealot, and Judas of Jacob. All these were continuing as one in prayer with the women, and Mary, Jesus’ mother, and his brothers.
And in those days, Peter, rising up in the middle of the brothers, (but the named crowd together was around one hundred twenty), said, “Men, brothers, it is necessary to fulfill scripture, which predicted by Holy Spirit through David’s mouth about Judas, who was the leader of those who arrested Jesus, for he was numbered together among us, and he was allotted a portion in this ministry. (And he indeed possessed a field from his iniquity’s pay, and hanged, he burst apart, and all his guts were poured out. And it became known to all Jerusalem’s inhabitants, so that this field was called in their tongue, Acheldemach – that is, ‘field of blood.’) For it was written in the book of Psalms,
‘Let his dwelling be deserted,
and let there be no one who lives in it,
and let another receive his responsibility.’
“So it is necessary from among these men who were gathered together all the time that the Lord Jesus came in and went out among us, beginning from John’s baptism even to the day when he was taken up from us, one from these to be made a witness with us of his resurrection.”
And they stood up two: Joseph, who was called Barsabbas, whose surname was Fair; and Matthias. And praying, they said, “You, Lord, who have known the hearts of all, show whom you have chosen – one of these two – to receive this ministry’s place and apostleship, from which Judas has transgressed, so he might go to his place.”
And they gave lots to them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Acts 2.
And when the day of Pentecost came, all were together in the same place. And suddenly a sound came from the sky like a mighty wind coming, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And divided tongues like fire appeared to them, and sat on each one of them. And all were filled by Holy Spirit, and they began to speak other languages as Holy Spirit gave them to speak.
But there were among Jerusalem’s inhabitants Jews, religious men, from every nation that is under the sky. But this voice happening, a multitude came together, and it was confused in mind because each one heard them speaking his own language. But all were astounded and wondered, saying, “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? And how have we heard, each one, our language in which we were born – Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and those who live in Mesopotamia, and Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus, and Asia; Frygia, and Pamphilia, Egypt, and the part of Libya that is near Cyrene, and Roman newcomers; Jews and proselytes alike, Cretans and Arabs – we hear them speaking God’s great works in our languages!”
But all were astounded, and they wondered, saying to each other, “What does this want to be?”
But others, mocking, began saying that, “They are full of new wine.”
But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and hear my words with your ears! For it isn’t as you think – that these are drunk – when it is only the day’s third hour. Yet this is what is written through the prophet Joel.
‘And it will be in the last days, the Lord says,
I will pour out from My Spirit over all flesh.
And your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
and your youths will see visions,
and your elders will dream dreams.
And indeed, over My slaves
and over My handmaids in those days,
I will pour out from My Spirit,
and they will prophesy.
And I will give signs in sky above
and signs in land below,
blood and fire and vapor of smoke.
Sun will be turned to shadows, and moon to blood
before the Lord’s great and manifest day may come.
And it will be, whoever invokes the Lord’s name will be saved.’
“Israelite men, hear these words! Jesus Nazarene, a man approved by God among you in powers and wonders and signs, that God worked through him in your midst – as you know – he, by God’s defined counsel and foreknowledge, handed over through the hands of treacherous men, you killed by crucifying – whom God raised up, loosing the inferno’s pains, because it was impossible for him to be held by it. For David says about him,
‘I saw the Lord before me always.
Because He is at my right hand,
I will not be moved.
Because of this, my heart is happy,
and my tongue has exulted.
More so also, my flesh will rest in hope,
because you will not abandon my soul
to the inferno,
nor will you give Your Holy One to see corruption.’
You’ve made life’s ways known to me.
You will fill me with happiness with Your face.’
“Men, brothers, it is lawful to say boldly to you about the patriarch David that he is dead and buried, and his tomb is with us even to the present day. Therefore, when he was a prophet, and he knew that God, swearing, had sworn to him that one from his loins’ fruit would sit on his throne, seeing in advance, he spoke about Christ’s resurrection – for he was neither abandoned to the inferno, nor did his flesh see corruption. God raised up this Jesus, of which all of us are witnesses.
“Therefore, exalted to God’s right hand, and having received from the Father the promise of Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you see and hear. For David did not ascend to the skies, but he says,
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
Sit at My right hand,
until I set Your enemies as Your footstool.’
“So let all Israel’s house know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ – this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Hearing these words, they felt remorse at heart, and they said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Men, brothers, what will we do?”
And Peter said to them, “Act out penance and be baptized, each one of you, in Jesus Christ’s name, for your sins’ forgiveness, and you will receive Holy Spirit’s gift – for the promise is to you, and to your sons, and to all who are far away, as many as our God may invite!”
He also testified by many other words, and urged them, saying, “Be saved from this twisted generation!”
So those who received his word were baptized, and on that day around three thousand souls were added. But they were steadfast in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayers. But fear came to every heart. Likewise, many wonders and signs were done through the apostles in Jerusalem, and dread was great among all. All who believed also were together, and they had all in common. They were selling their possessions and substance, and dividing them among all, as each one had need. Likewise enduring daily as one in the temple, and breaking bread around the houses, they took up food with exultation and simplicity of heart,
praising God together, and having grace to all the people. But the Lord added daily those who were being saved in the thing itself.
Acts 3.
But Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour of prayer. And a certain man, who was lame from his mother’s womb, was carried, whom they set daily at the temple gate which is called “Beautiful,” so he could beg alms from those going into the temple. He, when he had seen Peter and John beginning to go into the temple, prayed that he might receive an alm. But Peter, staring intently at him with John, said, “Look at us.”
And he stretched out to them, hoping he would receive something from them. But Peter said, “There is no silver and gold with me, yet what I have I give you. In Jesus Christ the Nazarene’s name, get up and walk!”
And taking him by the right hand, he lifted him up, and at once his muscles and feet were made solid. And leaping, he stood, and was walking. And he went into the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising the Lord. And all the people saw him walking and praising God. But they recognized him, that he was the one who sat to beg alms at the temple’s Beautiful gate. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened to him.
But while he held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the gate that is called Solomon’s, wondering. But Peter, seeing, responded to the crowd, “Israelite men, why do you wonder at this, or why do you look at us as if we by our power or piety had made this man walk? Abraham’s God, and Isaac’s God, and Jacob’s God, our fathers’ God, has glorified His Son Jesus, whom you indeed betrayed and denied before Pilate’s face, him having judged to let him go. But you denied the holy and righteous one, and asked a man, a murderer, be given you. And you killed life’s author, whom God raised up from the dead, of which we are witnesses. And his name, by faith in his name, strengthened this man whom you see and know. And the faith that is through him has given this man complete health in the sight of all of you. And now, brothers, I know that you did this through ignorance, as your princes did also. But what God announced before through all the prophets’ mouth – His Christ to suffer – is fulfilled so. Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be erased, that when seasons of refreshing come from the Lord’s sight, He too will send him who was spoken of beforehand to you, Jesus Christ – whom sky indeed must receive even to the season of the restitution of all things, that God has spoken of through the mouth of His holy ones the prophets from the age. Moses indeed said that,
‘The Lord your God will raise up
a prophet like me for you from your brothers.
You will listen according to all,
whatever he may say to you.’
But it will be that every soul
who will not listen to that prophet
will be exterminated from the people.’
“And all the prophets who spoke from Samuel and thereafter also announced these days. But you are sons of the prophets and covenant that God appointed to your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And all earth’s families will be blessed in your seed.’ God, raising up His Son, sent him to you first, blessing you, that each one of you may turn himself from his worthlessness.”
Acts 4.
But while they were talking to the people, the priests and temple officials and Sadducees came on them, pained that they were teaching the people and
announcing in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and placed them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of men became five thousand.
But it happened at morning that their princes and elders and writers gathered in Jerusalem – with Annas, the priests’ prince, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the priestly race. And standing them in the middle, they questioned, “In what power or in what name did you do this?”
Then Peter, filled by Holy Spirit, said to them, “Princes of the people, and elders, if we are judged today for doing well by a sick man, by whom he was made whole, let it be known to all of you and to all Israel’s people that by the name of Jesus Christ Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead – by this he stands before you whole. He is the stone who was rejected by you builders, who has become the cornerstone. And there is no security in another, for there is no other name given under the sky to men in which it is necessary for us to be made safe.”
But seeing Peter’s constancy and John’s, discovering that they were men without learning and uneducated, they wondered. And they knew them, that they were with Jesus. Likewise, seeing the man standing with them who was healed, no one could contradict it. So they ordered them to go out, outside the council, and they conferred among themselves, saying, “What will we do to these men? That a notable sign indeed has been done through them is clear to all Jerusalem’s inhabitants, and we can’t deny it. Yet that it not be given out further among the people, let us threaten them that they speak no more in this name to any man.”
And calling them, they denounced them, that they not say anything or teach in Jesus’ name. Yet Peter and John, answering, said to them, “You judge if it is fair in God’s sight to listen to you more than God, for we can’t not say what we have seen and heard.”
And threatening them, they let them go, not finding how they could punish them because of the people, for all were magnifying God over that which had happened – for the man in whom this sign of healing was done was more than forty years old.
But released, they came to their own, and they told them how much the priests’ princes and elders had said to them. They, when they had heard, lifted up the voice as one to God, and they said, “Lord, You are the One who made sky and land and sea and all that are in them, who said by Holy Spirit through the mouth of our father David, Your servant,
‘Why have nations raged,
and peoples considered foolishness?
The lands’ kings stood together,
and princes gathered as one against the Lord
and against His Christ.’
“For indeed Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and Israel’s people, came together in this city against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, to do what Your hand and counsel decreed
be done. And now, Lord, look on their threats, and
give Your slaves to speak Your word with all faithfulness, in that, when You stretch out Your hand to healings and signs and wonders, to be done through Your holy Son’s name – Jesus!”
And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered was moved, and all were filled by Holy Spirit, and they were speaking God’s word with faithfulness. But the heart and soul of the multitude of believers was one, nor was anyone of them saying that what they possessed was their own, yet all things were in common to them. And the apostles were giving testimony to the Lord Jesus Christ’s resurrection with great power, and great grace was among all of them – for neither was anyone in need among them. For as many as were possessors of fields or houses, selling them, were bringing the prices of those which they sold, and setting them at the apostles’ feet. But they were divided to each one, as each had need.
But Joseph, who was surnamed Barnabas by the apostles (which, interpreted, is “Consolation’s Son), was a Cypriot of Levite race. When he had a field, he sold it, and brought the price, and set it before the apostles’ feet.
Acts 5.
But a certain man named Ananias with Saffira his wife sold a field. And he cheated on the field’s price, his wife knowing, and bringing a certain portion, placed it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said to Ananias, “Why has Satan tested your heart, you lying to Holy Spirit and cheating on the field’s price? While it remained, didn’t it remain yours, and once sold, wasn’t it under your power? Why have you put this thing in your heart? You haven’t lied to men but to God.”
But Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and died, and great fear came on all who heard. But the young people, getting up, moved him out, and, carrying him away, they buried him. But it happened around a three hours’ space later, and his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in. But Peter answered her, “Tell me if you sold the field for this much.”
And she said, “Even this much.”
But Peter said to her, “Why in any case did it agree to you to test the Lord’s Spirit? Look, the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”
She fell at once at his feet and died. But the youths, coming in, found her dead, and they took her out and buried her by her husband. And great fear came to all the assembly, and to all who heard this. But many signs and wonders were done through the apostles’ hands among the people, and all were as one in Solomon’s portico. But no one of the rest dared to join himself to them, yet the people were lifting them up. But the multitude of men and women believing in the Lord grew greater, so that they lay the sick in the streets, and set them on beds and cots, so when Peter passed by, perhaps his shadow might overshadow any of them. But a multitude ran together also from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those troubled by unclean spirits, all of whom were cured.
But the priests’ prince, rising up, and all who were with him – that is, of the Sadducean heresy – were filled with jealousy. And they laid hands on the apostles, and placed them in public custody. But the Lord’s angel, opening the jail’s door by night and leading them out, said, “Go and, standing in the temple, speak to the people all this life’s words!”
They, when they had heard, went early into the temple, and were teaching. But the priests’ prince and those who were with him, coming, called together the council, and all Israel’s children’s elders, and they sent to the jail so they could be brought in. But when the ministers had come and, the jail opened, they hadn’t found them, going back,
they told, saying, “We found the jail closed indeed with all diligence, and the guards standing at the gates. But opening it, we found no one inside.”
But as they heard these words, the temple’s officer and the priests’ princes were in doubt about them, what would happen. But a certain man, coming, told them that, “Look, the men that you put in jail are standing in the temple and teaching the people.”
Then the officer went out with the ministers, and he brought them in without force, for they feared the people, lest they be stoned. And when they had brought them in, they stood in the council, and the priests’ prince questioned them, saying, “Surely we commanded you that you not teach in this name. And look, you’ve filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you want to bring this man’s blood over us.”
But Peter and the apostles, answering, said, “It is necessary to obey God more than men. Our fathers’ God raised up Jesus whom you killed, hanging him on a tree. God exalted him to His right hand, as prince and savior, to giving penance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses of these words, and Holy Spirit, whom God has given to all believing Him.”
When they had heard this, they were cut in pieces, and they plotted to kill them. But a certain Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law honored with the whole people, getting up, commanded the men to be put outside for a moment. And he said to them, “Men of Israel, watch yourselves concerning these men, what you want to do. For before these days, Theodas rose up, claiming himself to be someone, whom a number of men joined, around four hundred. He was killed, and all who believed him were scattered, and it came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the declaration, and he turned the people away after himself. And he perished, and all, as many as joined him, were scattered. And so I say to you now, pull back from these men, and let them alone, for if this counsel or work is from men, it will be defeated. Yet if it is from God, you can’t defeat them, unless perhaps also you be found to fight against God.”
But they consented to him, and, calling the apostles, beating them, they warned them that they say nothing in Jesus’ name. And they let them go. And they indeed left from the council’s presence, rejoicing that they were considered worthy to suffer abuse for Jesus’ name. But all day in the temple and around the homes, they did not cease teaching and proclaiming the good news of Christ Jesus.
Acts 6.
But in those days, as the number of disciples was increasing, a complaint grew up of Greeks against Hebrews, because their widows were considered in the daily ministry. But the twelve, calling together the multitude of disciples, said, “It’s not fair for us to abandon God’s word and wait on tables. So, brothers, consider seven men of good testimony from among you, full of Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this work. And we indeed will be instant to prayer and the word’s ministry.”
And the word was pleasing before all the multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and Holy Spirit; and Philip; and Prochorus; and Nicanor; and Timon; and Parmenas; and Nicolaus, an Antiochene newcomer. They stood these before the apostles’ sight, and praying, they laid hands on them. And God’s word increased, and the number of disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem. Even a great crowd of priests obeyed the faith.
But Stephen, full of grace and strength, worked wonders and great signs among the people. But some from the synagogue that was called “Of the Freedmen,” and the Cyrenians, and the Alexandrians, and those who were from Cilicia and Asia, rose up, disputing with Stephen. And they couldn’t resist the wisdom and Spirit by which he was speaking. Then they put forth men who claimed to have heard him saying blasphemous words against Moses and God. So they moved the people and elders and writers, and, running together, they took him away, and led him to the council. And they stood up false witnesses, saying, “This man doesn’t cease to speak words against the holy place and the law, for we heard him saying that this Jesus Nazarene will destroy this place, and change the traditions that Moses handed on to us.”
And looking at him intently, all who sat in the council saw his face like the face of an angel.
Acts 7.
But the priests’ prince said, “Are these things so?”
Stephen said, “Men, brothers and fathers, listen! Glory’s God appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran. And He said to him, ‘Go out from your land and from your clan, and go into a land that I will show you.’ Then he went out from the Chaldeans’ land, and he lived in Haran. And from there, after his father died, He took him into this land in which you now live. And He did not give him an inheritance in it, not even a footstep. And He promised to give it to him and to his seed after as a possession, when he had no son.
“But God said that, ‘Your seed will be an inhabitant in a strange land, and they will subject them to slavery, and treat them harshly for four hundred years. And I will judge the nation whom they serve,’ God said, ‘and after this they will go out, and they will serve Me in this place.’ And He gave him the covenant of circumcision, and so he fathered Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day, and Isaac Jacob, and Jacob the twelve patriarchs. And the patriarchs, envying Joseph, sold him to Egypt. And God was with him, and rescued him from all his troubles. And He gave him grace and wisdom in Pharaoh’s sight, Egypt’s king, and he appointed him commander over Egypt and over all his house. But famine and great trouble came to all
Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers did not find food. But when Jacob had heard there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers first. And on the second trip, Joseph was recognized by his brothers, and his race was made known to Pharaoh. But Joseph, sending, brought Jacob his father near, and all his clan – seventy-five souls. And Jacob went down to Egypt, and he died – he and our fathers. And they took him to Shechem, and placed him in the tomb that Abraham bought for a price of silver from Emmor’s sons, Shechem’s son.
“But when the promised time that God had confessed to Abraham had come near, the people grew and was multiplied in Egypt – so much so that another king rose up in Egypt, who did not know Joseph. He, working around our race, afflicted the fathers, that they expose their infants, that they not live. At that time, Moses was born, and was pleasing to God. He was nursed three months in his father’s house. But when he was exposed, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and she raised him for herself as a son. But Moses was taught all the Egyptians’ wisdom, and he was mighty in his words and works. But when the time of forty years was completed for him, it rose up in his heart that he visit his brothers, Israel’s sons. And when he had seen a certain one suffering injury, he defended him, and worked revenge for the one who sustained the injury, striking the Egyptian down. But he assumed the brothers would understand that God was giving security to them by his hand, yet they didn’t understand. And the next day, he appeared to two who were quarreling, and he was reconciling them in peace, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers – so why are you harming each other?’
“But the one who did the injury to the neighbor pushed him away, saying, ‘Who appointed you prince and judge over us? ‘Do you want to kill me like you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’
“But Moses ran away at this word, and he became a newcomer in Midian’s land, where he fathered two sons. And when forty years were completed, an angel appeared to him in Mount Sinai’s desert, in the flame of a burning bush. But Moses, seeing, wondered at the vision, and while he was coming near so he could consider, the Lord’s voice came, saying, ‘I am your fathers’ God: Abraham’s God, and Isaac’s God, and Jacob’s God.’ But Moses, terrified, did not dare to look.
But God said to him, ‘Untie the sandal from your feet, for the place in which you stand is holy ground! Surely I have seen the affliction of My people who is in Egypt, and I have heard their groan, and I have come down to free them. And now, go, and I will send you to Egypt!’ This Moses, whom they denied, saying, ‘Who appointed you prince and judge!’ – God sent him as prince and redeemer, with the angel’s hand who appeared to him in the bush. He led them out, working wonders and signs in Egypt’s land, and at the Red Sea, and in
the desert forty years. This is Moses, who said to Israel’s sons, ‘The Lord will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.’ This is the one who was in the assembly in the wasteland, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with your fathers, who received life’s words to give to us – whom our fathers wouldn’t obey! Yet they rejected him, and turned away to Egypt in their hearts, saying to Aaron, ‘Make us gods who can go before us, for this Moses, who led us from Egypt’s land, we don’t know what happened to him.’ And they made a calf in those days, and offered victims to an image, and they were happy in their hands’ But God turned away, and handed them over to serve the sky’s soldiers, as is written in the Prophets’ book:
‘Did you offer victims and sacrifices to Me
forty years in the desert, Israel’s house?
And you accepted Moloch’s tabernacle,
and your god Rempham’s star,
figures that you made to worship them.
And I will take you away beyond Babylon.’
“Testimony’s tabernacle was with our fathers in the desert, as He appointed, speaking to Moses that he make it according to the form that he had seen, which they also brought in with Joshua – our fathers receiving it as a possession, from the nations which God pushed out before our fathers’ face, even to David’s days; who found grace before God. And he asked workers that he might find a tabernacle for Jacob’s God. But Solomon built Him a house. Yet the Most High does not live in houses made by hands, as the prophet says:
‘Sky is a seat to Me, but earth is My footstool.
What house will you build Me, the Lord says,
or who is the place of My rest?
Hasn’t My hand made all these?’
“Hard necked and uncircumcised in hearts and ears, you always resisted Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, you too do! Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who told beforehand of the Righteous One’s coming, to whom you now were betrayers and murderers, you who received the law at the angels’ disposition, and have not kept it!”
But hearing these words, they were cut to their hearts, and they ground their teeth at him. But while he was full of Holy Spirit, looking intently into the sky, he saw God’s glory, and Jesus standing at God’s right. And he said, “Look, I see skies opened, and man’s Son standing at God’s right!”
But shouting in a great voice, they stopped up their ears, and worked force as one against him. And throwing him outside the city, they stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a youth who was called Saul. And they stoned Stephen, who was invoking and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”
But pitched on his knees, he shouted in a great voice, “Lord, don’t set this sin against them!”
And when he had said this, he slept. But Saul was consenting to his killing.
Acts 8.
But a great persecution happened on that day against the assembly that was in Jerusalem, and all were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles. But devout men cared for Stephen, and they made a great mourning over him. Saul, though, devastated the assembly. Entering through houses and hauling off men and women, he handed them into custody. Therefore, those who were scattered passed through, evangelizing the word.
But Philip, going down to a Samaritan city, was preaching Christ to them. But the crowds paid attention intently to those things that were said by Philip, hearing as one, and seeing the signs that he did – for many of those who had unclean spirits came out, shouting with a great voice. But many paralytics and lame were cured, so great joy came to that city. But there was a certain man named Simon, who was a magician before in the city, seducing the Samaritan nation, claiming himself to be someone great; whom all obeyed, from the least even to the greatest, saying, “He is God’s power, which is called Great.”
But all paid attention to him because he had deluded them for a long time with his spells. And when they had believed Philip, evangelizing about God’s kingdom and Jesus Christ’s name, they were baptized – men and women. Then Simon himself also believed, and when he had been baptized, he stayed close to Philip. Astounded, he wondered, seeing also great signs and powers being done. But when the apostles who were in Jerusalem heard that Samaria received God’s word, they sent Peter and John to them; who, when they had come, prayed for them that they might receive Holy Spirit – for it had not yet come to any of them, yet they had only been baptized in the Lord Then they laid hands on them, and they received Holy Spirit.
But when Simon had seen that Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power, too, so whoever I lay hands on may receive Holy Spirit!”
But Peter said to him,“May your money be with you in destruction, because you thought to possess God’s gift by money. There is neither portion nor lot to you in this word, for your heart isn’t right before God. Therefore, act out penance for this worthlessness of yours, and pray God, if perhaps this scheme of your heart may be forgiven you – for I see you to be in bile’s bitterness and iniquity’s obligation!”
But Simon, answering, said, “You pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of these that you’ve said may come over me!”
And they indeed, having testified and spoken the Lord’s word, returned to Jerusalem, and they evangelized many in the Samaritans’ regions. But the Lord’s angel spoke to Philip, saying, “Get up and go to the south, to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”
This is desert. And getting up, he went out, and look, there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a mighty man of Candace, the Ethiopian queen, who was over her treasures. He had come to worship in Jerusalem, and was going back, sitting in his chariot and reading the prophet Isaiah. But Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and join yourself to that chariot!”
But Philip, running, heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and he said, “Do you think you understand what you are reading?”
He said, “And how can I, if there is no one to show me?”
And he prayed Philip that he come up and sit with him. But the place in scripture that he was reading was this:
“He was led like a sheep to slaughter,
and like a lamb without voice
before the one shearing him,
so he didn’t open his mouth.
His judgment was taken away in humiliation.
His generation, who will tell,
for his life is taken from the earth?”
But the eunuch, answering, said to Philip, “I pray you, about whom does the prophet say this? About himself, or about someone else?”
But Philip, opening his mouth and beginning from that scripture, evangelized Jesus to him. And while they went along the road, they came to a certain pool of water. And the eunuch said, “Look, water! What keeps me from being baptized?”
And he commanded the chariot to stop, and both went down into the water – Philip and the eunuch – and he baptized him. But when they had come up from the water, the Lord’s Spirit snatched Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more – for he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found in Azotus, and, passing through, he evangelized all the cities until he came to Caesarea.
Acts 9.
But Saul, still breathing threats and beatings to the Lord’s disciples, came to the priests’ prince, and asked letters from him to Damascus, to the synagogues, so if he found some men and women of this way, he might bring them chained to Jerusalem. And while he was making the journey, it happened as he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light from the sky flashed around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”
He said, “Who are you, Lord?”
And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you persecute. Yet get up, and go into the city, and it will be told you what you must do.”
But the men who traveled with him stood astounded, hearing the voice indeed, yet seeing no one. But Saul got up from the ground and, opening his eyes, saw nothing. So taking him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus. And he was three days not seeing, and he neither ate nor drank. But there was a certain Damascene disciple named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.”
And he said, “Look, Lord, I am!”
And the Lord said to him, “Getting up, go to the street that is called Straight, and seek in Judah’s house Saul, called ‘of Tarsus,’ for look, he is praying. And he saw a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him, so he could receive sight.”
But Ananias said, “Lord, I’ve heard from many about this man – how many harms he has done to Your holy ones in Jerusalem. And he has authority here from the priests’ prince to bind all who invoke Your name.”
But the Lord said to him, “Go, because he is a chosen vessel to me, so he may carry My name before nations, and kings, and Israel’s sons, for I will show him how much it is necessary for him to suffer for My name’s sake.”
And Ananias went out, and went into the house. And laying hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord sent me – Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you came – so you may see and be filled by Holy Spirit.”
And at once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received sight. And getting up, he was baptized. And when he had taken food, he was strengthened. But for some days he was with the disciples who were in Damascus. And at once he began preaching Jesus in the synagogues, that he is God’s Son. But all who heard were astounded, and they said, “Isn’t this the one who fought against those who invoke this name in Jerusalem, and came here so he could take them chained to the priests’ princes?”
But Saul recovered more, and he confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus, affirming that Jesus is Christ. But when many days were completed, the Jews made counsel how they could kill him, but their traps were made known to Saul. Yet they were watching the gates also day and night, so they could kill him. But the disciples, taking him by night, let him go over the wall, sending him down in a basket.
But when he had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join himself to the disciples, and all feared him, not believing that he was a disciple. But Barnabas, taking him, led him to the apostles. And he told them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had acted faithfully in Damascus in Jesus’ name. And he was with them, going in and coming out in Jerusalem, and acting faithfully in the Lord’s name. Likewise, he spoke and disputed with the Greeks, but they sought to kill him. When the brothers recognized that, they led him out to Caesarea, and sent him to Tarsus. The assembly indeed had peace through all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and was built up, walking in fear of the Lord, and filled by Holy Spirit’s consolation.
But it happened while Peter, passing through all the places, came again to the holy ones who were living in Lydda. But he found there a certain man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed, lying on a cot for eight years. And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and straighten yourself up!”
And he got up at once. And all who lived in Lydda and Sarona saw him, who were converted to the Lord. But there was a certain disciple in Joppa named Tabita, which, interpreted, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and thealms that she did. But it happened in those days that, having fallen sick, she died. When they had washed her, they placed her in an upper room. But since Lydda was close to Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was in her, sent two men to him, praying, “Don’t hesitate to come even to us!”
But Peter, getting up, came with them, and when he had come, they led him to the upper room. And all the widows stood around him, weeping and showing the shirts and clothes that Dorcas made them. But throwing all outside, Peter, getting on his
knees, prayed. And, turning to the body, he said, “Tabita, get up!”
And she opened her eyes and, seeing Peter, sat up. But giving her his hand, he lifted her up. And when he had called the holy ones and the widows, he gave her over alive. But it became known through all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. But it happened that he stayed many days in Joppa with a certain Simon, a tanner.
Acts 10.
But there was a certain man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion in the cohort that is called “Italian” – religious and fearing God with all his house, working many alms to the people and praying to God always. He saw God’s angel clearly in a vision around the ninth hour, coming to him and saying to him, “Cornelius.”
And he, looking intently at him, seized by fear, said, “What is it, Lord?”
But he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial in God’s sight. And now, send men to Joppa, and summon a certain Simon, who is surnamed Peter. He is a guest with a certain Simon, a tanner whose house is beside the sea.”
And when the angel who spoke to him had left, he called two of his domestic servants to him, and a soldier fearing the Lord from those who obeyed him. When he had told all to them, he sent them to Joppa. But the next day, while they were making the journey and coming near the city, Peter went up onto the roof so he could pray, around the sixth hour. And when he was hungry, he wanted to taste food. But while they were preparing it, a trance fell on him. And he sees the sky opened, and a certain vessel like a great linen sheet let down by four beginnings from sky to land, in which were all four-legged beasts, and the land’s snakes, and the sky’s birds. “Get up, Peter, and kill, and eat!”
But Peter said, “Far be it, Lord, for I’ve never eaten anything common or unclean!”
And the voice again spoke a second time to him, “What God has purified, you may not call unclean.”
But this happened three times, and at once the vessel was taken up into the sky. And while Peter hesitated in himself what the vision that he had seen might be, look, the men who were sent from Cornelius seeking Simon’s house stood at the door. And when they had called, they asked if Simon who was surnamed Peter might be a guest there. But while Peter thought about the vision, Spirit said to him, “Look, three men are looking for you. Get up, therefore, and go down, and go with them, doubting nothing, because I have sent them.”
But Peter, going down to the men, said, “Look, I am the one whom you seek. What is the reason that you’ve come?”
They said, “Cornelius the centurion, a fair man and one fearing God, and having testimony from all the Jewish people, received an answer from a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.”
Bringing them in, therefore, he received hospitality. But getting up the following day, he set out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa were his companions. But the following day, he went into Caesarea. Cornelius indeed was waiting for them, having called together his kin and closest friends. And it happened when Peter had gone in, Cornelius met him and, falling at his feet, worshiped. Yet Peter lifted him, saying, “Get up! I myself am a man too.”
And talking with him, he went in and found many who had come together. And he said to them, “You know how it may be an abomination to a Jewish man to join with or come near a foreigner. And God has shown me to call no man common or unclean. Because of that, I came without doubt when summoned. I ask, then, for what reason you summoned me?”
And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, even at this hour, I was praying at the ninth hour in my house. And look, a man stood before me in white clothing, and he said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in God’s sight. Send therefore to Joppa, and summon Simon, who is surnamed Peter. He is a guest at Simon the tanner’s house, beside the sea.’ Therefore I sent to you at once, and you have done well by coming. Now then, all of us are in your presence to hear all, whatever are commanded you from the Lord.”
But Peter, opening his mouth, said, “I’ve known in truth that God is no favorer of persons, yet in every nation, who fears Him and works fairness is acceptable to Him. He sent a word to Israel’s sons, announcing peace through Jesus Christ. He is Lord of all. You know the word that happened through all Judea, for beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John preached – Jesus of Nazareth – how God anointed him by Holy Spirit and power. He went around doing well and healing all pressed down by the devil, because God was with him. And we are witnesses of all that he did in the Jews’ country and Jerusalem, whom they also killed, hanging him on a tree. Him God raised up the third day, and gave him to be made manifest – not to all the people, yet to witnesses preordained from God, to us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that he is the one who is appointed from God as judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear testimony. All who believe in him receive forgiveness of sins through his name.”
While Peter was still speaking these words, Holy Spirit fell over all who heard the word. And the faithful ones from the circumcision who had come with Peter were astounded, because Holy Spirit’s grace was poured out also among the nations – for they heard them speaking in tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter answered, “Can anyone prohibit water that these not be baptized, who have received Holy Spirit even as us?”
And he commanded them to be baptized in Jesus Christ’s name. Then they prayed him that he stay some days.
Acts 11.
But the apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that Gentiles received God’s word. But when Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision disputed against him, saying, “Why did you go in to men having foreskin, and eat with them?”
But Peter, beginning, laid out the order to them, saying, “I was in Joppa city praying, and I saw in my trance a vision – a certain vessel coming down, like a great linen sheet, let down from the sky by four beginnings. And it came even to me. Looking into it intently, I considered, and I saw the land’s four-legged animals, and beasts, and reptiles, and sky’s birds. But I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Getting up, Peter, kill, and eat!’ But I said, ‘By no means, Lord, for the common or unclean has never gone into my mouth!’ But the voice answered a second time from the sky, ‘What God has cleansed, you may not call common.’ But this happened three times, and all were taken up again into the sky. And look, at once three men stood at the house where I was, sent to me from Caesarea. But Spirit said to me that I go with them, hesitating in nothing. So six of those brothers also came with me, and we went into the man’s house.
“But he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, and saying to him, ‘Send to Joppa, and summon Simon, who is called Peter, who will speak words to you by which you will be saved, and all your house.’ But when I had begun to speak, Holy Spirit fell over them, as also among us at the beginning. But I remembered the Lord’s word, as he said, ‘John indeed baptized you by water, but you will be baptized by Holy Spirit.’ So if God gave them the same grace as also to us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I who could prohibit God?”
Hearing these, they were silent, and they glorified God, saying, “So God has given Gentiles repentance to life also.”
And those indeed who were scattered by the trouble that happened under Stephen traveled even to Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews only. But there were certain of the Cypriot and Cyrenian men who, when they had come into Antioch, were speaking also to the Greeks, announcing the Lord Jesus. And the Lord’s hand was with them, and a large number of believers was converted to the Lord. But the word came to the ears of the assembly that was in Jerusalem, about these things, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch, who, when he had come and had seen God’s grace, was happy, and exhorted all by the heart’s purpose to remain in the Lord – for he was a good man, and full of Holy Spirit and faith, and a great crowd was added to the Lord.
But he set out to Tarsus so he could seek Saul, whom, when he had found him, he brought to Antioch. And they lived a whole year among the assembly, and taught a great crowd, so that the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. But in those days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabus, getting up, signified through Spirit a great future famine in all the world’s lands, which happened under Claudius. But each of the disciples proposed, as anyone had means, to send in ministry to the brothers living in Judea, which they did also, sending to the elders through Barnabas and Saul’s hands.
Acts 12.
At that same time, King Herod sent a hand so he could afflict some from the assembly. But he killed Jacob, John’s brother, with the sword. But seeing that it pleased the Jews, he arranged to seize Peter too, yet those were the days of unleavened bread. When he had seized him, he threw him in jail, handing him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, wanting to bring him out to the people after Passover. And Peter indeed was guarded in jail, but prayer was made without ceasing to God for him by the assembly.
But when Herod was about to bring him out, on that same night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound by two chains, and keepers watched before the jail’s door. And look, the Lord’s angel stood by him, and light flashed in the little room. And striking Peter in the side, he roused him, saying, “Get up quickly!”
And the chains fell from his hands. But the angel said to him, “Clothe yourself and put on your sandals,” and he did so.
And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around
you, and follow me!”
And going out, he followed, and he didn’t know that what was happening through the angel was real, yet he thought he was seeing a vision. But passing by the first and second keepers, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them unaided. And going out, they went one block, and at once the angel went away from him. And Peter, coming back to himself, said, “Now I know that the Lord really sent His angel, and rescued me from Herod’s hand, and from all the Jewish people’s expectation.”
And considering, he came to the house of Mary, John’s mother, who was surnamed Mark, where many were gathered and praying. But as he knocked at the door’s gate, a girl named Rhoda came to listen. And as she recognized Peter’s voice, she didn’t open the gate for joy, yet running in, she announced that Peter was standing before the door. And they said to her, “You’re insane!”
But she affirmed to have it so, and they said, “It’s his angel.”
But Peter kept knocking, yet when they had opened, they saw him and were astounded. But motioning to them with his hand that they be quiet, he told how the Lord had led him out of the jail. And he said, “Tell Jacob and the brothers this.”
And going out, he went to another place. But when day came, there was not a little disturbance between the soldiers over what had happened to Peter. But Herod, when he had sought him and not found him, making an inquisition of the jailers, commanded them to be led to death. And going down from Judea to Caesarea, he stayed there.
But he was angry at the Tyrians and Sidonians, and they came to him as one, and persuading Blastus, who was over the king’s chamber, they asked peace – for their countries were fed by him. But on the appointed day, Herod, dressed in royal clothing, sat before the tribunal, and was making a speech to them. But the people acclaimed, “A god’s voice, and not a man’s!”
But the Lord’s angel struck him down at once, because he had not given honor to God. And eaten by worms, he died. Yet the Lord’s word grew and was multiplied.
But Barnabas and Saul came back from Jerusalem, having fulfilled the ministry, taking up John who was surnamed Mark.
Acts 13.
But there were prophets and teachers in the assembly that was in Antioch, among whom were Barnabas; and Simeon who was called Niger; and Lucius of Cyrenia; and Manaen, who was nursed at the same breast as Herod the tetrarch; and Saul. But while they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, Holy Spirit said, “Set apart Barnabas and Saul to Me, to the work that I’ve taken up for them.”
Then fasting and praying and laying hands on them, they let them go. And they indeed, sent by Holy Spirit, went out to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. And when they had come to Salamina, they started preaching God’s word in the Jewish synagogues, but they had John in ministry. And when they had walked through the whole island even to Paphos, they found a certain man, a Jewish magician, a false prophet, to whom was the name Bar-Jesus, who was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, a prudent man. He, summoning Barnabas and Saul, wanted to hear God’s word.
But the magician Elymas (for so was his name interpreted) resisted them, wanting to turn the proconsul from the faith. But Saul (who is also Paul), filled by Holy Spirit, looking at him intently, said, “O full of every deceit, and every error, son of the devil, enemy of all righteousness, won’t you stop undermining the Lord’s right ways? And now, look! The Lord’s hand is against you, and you will be blind, not seeing the sun until the time!”
And at once gloom fell on him and shadows, and groping around, he sought someone who might give him a hand. Then the proconsul, when he had seen it happen, believed, wondering at the Lord’s teaching. And when they had sailed from Paphos, Paul and those who were with him came to Pamphilian Perga. But John, going away from them, went back to Jerusalem. And they, going through Perga, came to Pisidian Antioch. And going into the synagogue on the Sabbaths’ day, they sat down. But after the reading of the law and the prophets, the synagogue princes sent to them, saying, “Men, brothers, if there is someone among you with a word of exhortation to the people, speak!”
But Paul, getting up and indicating silence by hand, said, “Israelite men, and you who fear God, listen! The God of Israel’s people chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they were aliens in Egypt’s land, and He led them out of it with a lifted-up arm. And He put up with their habits for forty years’ time in the desert. And destroying seven nations in Canaan’s land, he distributed their land to them by lot, after around four hundred fifty years. And after this, He gave judges even to Samuel the prophet. And from there, they demanded a king, and God gave them Saul, Kish’s son, a man of Benjamin’s tribe, for forty years. And taking him away, he raised up David as king to them, to whom, bearing testimony, He said, ‘I found David, Jesse’s son, a man according to My heart, who will do all My desires’ – of whose seed God brought out to Israel a
securer, Jesus, according to promise – John preaching his coming before his face, a baptism of repentance to all Israel’s people. But when John had completed his course, he was saying, ‘I am not whom you consider me to be. Yet look, he comes after me, whose sandaled foot I am not worthy to untie.’
“Men, brothers, sons of Abraham’s race, and those who fear God among you, this security’s word is sent to you, for those who lived in Jerusalem and their princes, not knowing Him or the prophets’ voices who are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them, judging. And finding no cause of death in him, they
asked from Pilate that they could kill him. And when they had fulfilled all things that were written about him, taking him down from the tree, they set him in a tomb. God truly raised him from the dead, who was seen for many days by those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who even to now are his witnesses to the people.
“And we announce to you that promise which came to our fathers, for God has fulfilled this to our sons, raising Jesus, as is written also in the second Psalm:
‘You are My Son.
I birthed you today.’
"But that God raised him from the dead no more to return to corruption, so He said,
‘For I will give you David’s holy faithfulness.’
"And therefore as He says elsewhere,
‘You will not give Your Holy one to see corruption.’
"For when David had administered God’s will to his generation, he slept, and was placed with his fathers, and saw corruption. Yet the one whom God raised up did not see corruption. Therefore, be it known to you, men, brothers, that through him sins’ remission is told you from all – which you couldn’t be justified from in Moses’ law. Everyone who believes in this, is justified. Watch, therefore, that what is said in the prophets may not come:
‘See, mockers, and wonder, and be destroyed –
for I will do a work in your days,
a work that you will not believe
even if someone tells you.’”
But while they were going out, they prayed that they would speak these words to them the following Sabbath. And when the synagogue had been dismissed, many Jews and reverent newcomers followed Paul and Barnabas who, speaking, persuaded them that they remain in God’s grace.
And the following Sabbath nearly the whole city came together to hear the Lord’s word. But the Jews, seeing the crowds, were filled with jealousy, and they began contradicting those things that Paul was saying, blaspheming. Then Paul and Barnabas said firmly, “It was necessary to speak God’s word first to you. Yet because you reject it, and you’ve judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life, look – we turn to the Gentiles, for so the Lord commanded us:
‘I set you as light to the nations,
that you may be as security
even to the earth’s ends.’”
But the Gentiles, hearing, were happy, and they glorified the Lord’s word, and as many as were preordained for eternal life believed. But the Lord’s word was spread about through all the region. But the Jews stirred the religious and honest women, and the city’s nobles, and they incited a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and threw them out of their borders. And they, shaking the dust from their feet against them, came to Iconium. The disciples likewise were filled with joy and Holy Spirit.
Acts 14.
But it happened in Iconium that as they went together into the Jews’ synagogue and spoke so, that a large multitude of Jews and Greeks believed. Yet the Jews who were unbelieving rose up and stirred the souls of the Gentiles to anger against the brothers. Therefore, they stayed a long time, carrying on faithfully in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, giving signs and wonders to be done by their hands. But the city’s multitude was divided, and some indeed were with the Jews, and some indeed with the apostles.
But when an assault was made by the Gentiles and Jews with their princes, that they might afflict them with abuse and stone them, they, aware of it, fled to the cities of Lycaonian Lystra and Derbe and all the region around, and began evangelizing there. And a certain man sat in Lystra, weak in his feet, lame from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. He listened to Paul speaking, who, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith so he might be made whole, said in a great voice, “Get up straight on your feet!”
And he leapt up and walked. But the crowds, when they had seen what Paul had done, lifted up their voice in Lycaonian, saying, “The gods have come down to us, made like men!”
And they were calling Barnabas Jove, and Paul Mercury, for he was the leader in word. Likewise, Jove’s priest, who was before the city, bringing bulls and crowns before the gates, wanted to offer sacrifices. Yet when the apostles Barnabas and Paul
heard, tearing their tunics, they jumped into the crowds, shouting and saying, “Men, why are you doing this? We are mortal men like you, telling you to turn from these vanities to the living God, who made sky and land and sea and all that are in them! He in generations gone by allowed all the nations to go in their own ways. Yet indeed He didn’t leave Himself without testimony, doing well from the sky, giving rains and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and joy.”
And saying this, they hardly calmed the crowds down, that they not offer them sacrifices. But some Jews from Antioch and Iconium came and, persuading the crowds, stoning Paul, they dragged him outside the city, thinking him to be dead. But with the disciples standing around him, getting up, he went into the city and, the following day, he set out with Barnabas to Derbe. And when they had evangelized that city and taught many, they went back to Lystra and Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples’ souls, exhorting that they remain in the faith, and that it is necessary for us to enter into God’s kingdom through many troubles. And when they had appointed them elders in each of the assemblies, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they believed.
And passing through Pisidia, they came to Pamphilia. And speaking the Lord’s word in Perga, they went down to Attalia, and from there sailed to Antioch, from which they were handed over to God’s grace for the work that they had completed. But when they had come and had gathered the assembly together, they told how much God had done with them, for He had opened faith’s door to the Gentiles. But they stayed with the disciples not a little while.
Acts 15.
And some, coming down from Judea, taught the brothers that, “Unless you are circumcised according to Mosaic custom, you can’t be saved.”
So with Paul and Barnabas making not a small rebellion against them, they appointed that Paul and Barnabas and some of those against them should go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem over this question. They, therefore, sent out from the assembly, passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, telling the conversion of the Gentiles, and they made great joy to all the brothers. But when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly and by the apostles and elders, telling how much God had done with them. But some from the Pharisaic heresy who had believed rose up, saying that, “It is necessary for them to be circumcised, and be commanded to serve Moses’ law.”
And the apostles and elders came together to see about this word. But when a great dispute had happened, Peter, getting up, said to them, “Men, brothers, you know that from ancient days God chose among us for Gentiles to hear the evangelistic word through my mouth, and believe. And God, who has known hearts, offered testimony, giving them Holy Spirit just like us. And He separated nothing among us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now then, why are you testing God, to impose a yoke on the disciples’ neck that neither our fathers nor we have been able to carry? Yet through the grace of the Lord Jesus we believe to be saved, the same as they also.”
But all the multitude was silent, and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul telling how many signs and wonders God had done among the nations through them. But after they fell silent, Jacob answered, saying, “Men, brothers, listen to me. Simeon has told how God first visited to take up a people for His name from the nations. And the prophets’ words agree with this, as is written,
‘After this I will turn back
and build David’s tabernacle which has fallen,
and I will rebuild his ruin, and raise it up –
so the rest of men may seek the Lord,
and all nations over whom My name is invoked,
the Lord says, doing these.’
"His work is known to the Lord from the age. Because of that, I judge not to trouble those who turn to God from the Gentiles, yet to write to them that they keep themselves from the contaminations of idols, and fornication, and things strangled, and blood – for Moses has from ancient times those who
preach him in synagogues in every city, where he is read every Sabbath.”
Then it pleased the apostles and elders with all the assembly to chose men from among them, and to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas Judah, who was surnamed Barsabbas, and Silas, first men among the brothers, writing through their hand:
“The apostles and elders, brothers, to the brothers, those who are at Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, from the Gentiles, health. Because we have heard that some going out from among us have troubled you by words, overturning your souls, which we have not commanded, it was pleasing to us, gathered as one, to choose men and to send them to you with our most beloved Barnabas and Paul – men who have handed their lives over for our Lord Jesus Christ’s name. Therefore, we have sent Judah and Silas, who also will bring back to you the same words, for it seemed to Holy Spirit and to us to place no further burdens on you than these necessary ones: that you keep yourselves from meat offered to idols, and blood, things strangled, and fornication – keeping which you will do well.
Be strong!”
They, therefore, let go, went down to Antioch, and, gathering the multitude, handed over the letter, which, when they had read it, they were happy over the consolation. But Judah and Silas, when they also were prophets, consoled and strengthened the brothers by many words. But passing some time there, they were dismissed in peace from the brothers to those who had sent them. But Paul and Barnabas stayed at Antioch, teaching and evangelizing the Lord’s word with many others. But after some days, Paul said to Barnabas, “Going back, let’s visit the brothers in all the cities where we preached the Lord’s word – how they have it.”
But Barnabas wanted to take with them John, who was surnamed Mark. But Paul prayed that he, who had gone away from them from Pamphilia and was not with them in the work, ought not be received. But a quarrel happened, so that they separated from each other. And Barnabas, taking Mark, sailed to Cyprus. Yet Paul, choosing Silas, set out, being handed over to the Lord’s grace by the brothers. But they walked through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.
Acts 16.
But he came to Derbe and Lystra, and look, a certain disciple was there named Timothy, son of a faithful Jewish woman by a Gentile father, of whom the brothers who were in Lystra and Iconium returned testimony. Paul wanted him to set out with him, and, taking him up, he circumcised him, because of the Jews who were in those places, for all knew that he was of a Gentile father. But when they passed through the cities, they handed over to them to keep the teachings that were decreed by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. And the assemblies indeed were strengthened in faith, and grew in number daily.
But passing through Phrygia and the Galatian region, they were forbidden by Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. But when they had come to Mysia, they tried to go to Bithynia, and Jesus’ Spirit did not permit them. But when they had passed through Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision was shown Paul by night. A certain Macedonian man was standing and pleading with him, and saying, “Crossing to Macedonia, help us!”
But as he saw the vision, we immediately sought to set out to Macedonia, made certain that God had called us to evangelize them. But sailing from Troas by a straight course, we came to Samothrace, and the following day, to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is the first city of part of Macedonia, a colony. But we were in that city some days, conferring.
But the Sabbaths’ day, we went outside the gate beside the river, where prayer was seen to be, and sitting down, we spoke to the women who had gathered. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple cloth, of the Thyatireans’ city, serving God, listened, whose heart the Lord opened to understand those words that were said by Paul. But when she had been baptized and her house, she prayed, saying, “If you’ve judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay!”
And she urged us. But it happened while we went into pray, a certain girl having a breath of divination met us, who provided a great income to her masters through divination. She, following Paul and us, cried out, saying, “These men are the most high God’s slaves, who announce to you the way of wholeness!”
But she kept doing this for many days, and Paul, pained, turning to the spirit, said, “I command you in Jesus Christ’s name to come out of her!”
And it went out that same hour. But her masters, seeing that their hope of gain had gone out, seizing Paul and Silas, led them into the forum to the princes. And offering them to the officials, they said, “These men trouble our city when they are
Jews. And they are announcing a custom which isn’t legal for us to receive or do, when we are Romans.”
And the people ran together against them, and the officials, tearing their clothes, commanded them to be beaten with sticks. And when they had imposed many blows on them, they threw them into jail, commanding the keeper that he guard them diligently. He, when he had received such a command, threw them into the interior jail, and bound their feet in wooden stocks. But at midnight, Paul and Silas, worshiping, were praising God, and those who were in custody were listening to them. Yet suddenly a great earthquake happened, so that the jail’s foundations were moved, and all the doors at once were opened, and the chains of all were loosed. But the jail’s keeper, awakened suddenly and seeing the jail’s doors open, drawing out the sword, wanted to kill himself, figuring the captives had fled. But Paul shouted in a great voice, saying, “Don’t do yourself any harm, for we are all here!”
And asking for light, he went in and, trembling, threw himself down before Paul and Silas. And bringing them outside, he said, “Lords, what is necessary for me to do, so I can be saved?”
And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved – and your house.”
And they spoke the Lord’s word to him, with all who were in his house. And taking them at that hour of the night, he washed their wounds. And he was baptized at once, and all his household. And when he had led them into his house, he set a table for them and was happy with all his house, believing God.
And when day had come, the officials sent attendants, saying, “Release those men!”
But the jail’s keeper told these words to Paul, that, “The officials sent so you can be released. Now then, going out, go in peace.”
But Paul said to them, “Having beaten us publicly, Roman men, uncondemned, they threw us in jail. And now they throw us out secretly? Not so, yet let them come, and they themselves can throw us out!”
But the attendants told the officials these words, and they were afraid, hearing that they were Romans. And coming, they pleaded with them, and leading them out, they prayed that they go out of the city. But going out of the jail, they went in to Lydia, and seeing the brothers, they consoled them, and they set out.In Thessalonica
Acts 17.
But when they had gone through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. But Paul, according to custom, went into them, and began teaching them from the scriptures for three Sabbaths, opening up and insinuating that it was necessary for Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and that, “This is Christ Jesus, whom I announce to you.”
And some of them believed and were joined to Paul and Silas, and a great number of the reverent Gentiles, and not a few noble women. But the Jews, jealous and taking up certain harmful men from the common crowd and making trouble, stirred up the city. And standing outside Jason’s house, they sought to bring them out to the people. And when they couldn’t find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers to the city’s princes, claiming that, “These who have stirred up the world have come here too, whom Jason received. And all these work against Caesar’s decree, claiming Jesus to be another king.”
But they agitated the people, and the city’s princes, hearing these things, and, accepting satisfaction from Jason and from the others, let them go. And the brothers immediately let Paul and Silas go by night to Berea. They, when they had come, went into the synagogue of the Jews. But these were nobler than those who were in Thessalonica. They received the word with all eagerness, searching the scriptures daily if these had them so. And indeed many among them believed, and of the honest Gentile women, and not a few men. But when the Jews of Thessalonica knew that God’s word was preached by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, moving and troubling the multitude. And at once the brothers then dismissed Paul so he could go even to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there. But those who led Paul out brought him even
to Athens. And, receiving a command from him to Silas and Timothy that they come to him as quickly as possible, they set out.
But while Paul waited for them in Athens, his spirit was stirred up in himself, seeing the city given over to idolatry. Therefore, he was disputing in the synagogue with the Jews and worshipers, and in the
market place each day with those who stood by. But some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were debating with him, and some said, “What does this word-sower want to say?”
Others indeed said, “He seems to be an announcer of new demons,” because he was proclaiming Jesus and the resurrection to them. And taking him, they led him to the Areopagus, saying, “We want to know what this new teaching is that is talked about by you – for you are bringing new things to our ears. Therefore, we want to know what these want to be.”
But all the Athenians and the newcomers lodging there occupy themselves with nothing else but to speak and hear something new. So Paul, standing in the middle of the Areopagus, said, “Athenian men, I see you as surpassingly superstitious through all things, for passing by and seeing your idols, I found an altar too in which was written, ‘To an unknown god.’ What then you worship unknowing, this I announce to you.
“God who made the world and all things that are in it, when He is Lord of sky and land, does not live in temples made by hand, nor is He served by human hands, lacking anything, when He Himself gives to all life and breath and all things. And He made from one every race of men to live on all the land’s face, defining established seasons, and their habitations’ limits – to seek God, if perhaps they may feel or find Him. However, He may not be far from any of us, for in Him we live and move and are, as some of your poets have said, for we are of His race. When we, then, are of God’s race, we ought not consider divinity to be like gold, or silver,
or stone, sculpted by human arts and ideas.
“And God indeed, overlooking the seasons of this ignorance, now announces to men that all everywhere may act out penance – because He has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in fairness, by a man whom He has appointed, providing faith to all, raising him from the dead.”
But when they had heard of the resurrection of the dead, some indeed mocked. Yet others said, “We will hear you about this again.”
Yet certain men, joining to him, believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
Acts 18.
Going out of Athens after this, he came to Corinth. And, finding a certain Jew named Aquila, of Pontican birth, who had just come from Italy with Priscilla his wife, (because Claudius had commanded all Jews to leave Rome) he came near them. And because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked. (But he was of the tent-making trade.). But when Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul stood in the word, testifying to the Jews Jesus to be Christ. But while they were contradicting them and blaspheming, he, shaking out his clothes, said to them, “Your blood be on your head. I am clean from this. I will go to the Gentiles.”
And leaving from there, he went into the house of a certain man named Titus Justus, one serving God, whose home was joined to the synagogue. But Crispus, the synagogue ruler, believed the Lord with all his house, and many Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized. But the Lord said to Paul through a vision at night, “Don’t be afraid, yet speak, and don’t be silent – because I am with you, and no one will impose on you that he harm you, for a great people is Mine in this city!”
So he stayed one year and six months, teaching God’s word with them. But while Gallio was Achaia’s proconsul, the Jews rose up with one soul against Paul, and they brought him to the tribunal, saying that, “He persuades men to serve God against the law.”
But as Paul began to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If indeed there was some iniquity or dismal crime, O Jewish men, I rightly would put up with you. Yet if there are questions about the word and names and your law, you yourselves see to it. I won’t be judge of these things.”
And he drove them from the tribunal. But all, seizing Sosthenes, a synagogue prince, beat him before the tribunal, and nothing of theirs was a concern to Gallio. Yet Paul, when he had already sustained many days with the brothers, saying goodbye, sailed to Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila with him. Paul had shaved his head in Cenchrea, for he had made a vow. And he came to Ephesus, and he left them there. Yet he, going into the synagogue, disputed with the Jews. But while they prayed him that he stay a longer time, he didn’t consent. Yet saying goodbye and saying, “I will come back to you again, God willing,” he set out from Ephesus.
And going down to Caesarea, he went up and greeted the assembly, and went down to Antioch. And, passing a certain time there, he set out, walking in order through the Galatian region and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. But a certain Jew named Apollos, of the Alexandrian nation, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus, mighty in the scriptures. He was taught the Lord’s way, and spoke by a fervent spirit, and was teaching diligently those things that are of Jesus, knowing only John’s baptism.
Therefore, he began to act faithfully in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila had heard him, they took him up and most diligently set God’s way before him. But when he wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers to encourage him wrote to the disciples that they receive him. He, when had come, brought together many of those who had believed, for he vehemently disproved the Jews, publicly showing by the scriptures Jesus to be Christ.
Acts 19.
But it happened when Apollos was at Corinth that Paul, passing through the upper portions, came to Ephesus, and he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive Holy Spirit when believing?”
And they said to him, “We haven’t even heard if there is a Holy Spirit.”
And he said, “In what, then, were you baptized?”
They said, “In John’s baptism.”
But Paul said, “John baptized people in a baptism of repentance, saying that they should believe in him who was to come after him – that is, in Jesus.”
Hearing these words, they were baptized in the Lord Jesus’ name. And when Paul had laid hands on them, Holy Spirit came over them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. But there were around twelve men. But going into the synagogue, he spoke with faithfulness for three months, disputing and persuading about God’s kingdom. But when some were hardened and wouldn’t believe, cursing the way before the multitude, withdrawing from them, he set the disciples apart, disputing daily in Tyrannus’s school. But this happened for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the Lord’s word – Jews and Gentiles.
And God worked extraordinary powers through Paul’s hand, so that they even brought napkins or aprons from his body over the sick, and the sicknesses pulled away from them, and worthless spirits went out. But some of the Jewish exorcists going around tried to invoke the Lord Jesus’ name over those who had harmful spirits, saying, “I adjure you by Jesus, whom Paul preaches.”
But there were seven sons of a certain Jew Sceva, a priestly prince, who were doing this. But the worthless spirit, answering them, said, “Jesus I’ve known, and Paul I know, but you – who are you?”
And the man in whom the dismal demon was, leaping on them and dominating both, prevailed against them, so that they fled from his house naked and wounded. But this became known to all the Jews and Gentiles who lived in Ephesus, and fear fell over all of them, and they magnified the Lord Jesus’ name. And many believers were coming, confessing and telling their actions. But many of those who were pursuing curious practices brought books and burned them before all. And counting up their value, they found the money worth fifty thousand denarii. So God’s word grew mightily and was strengthened.
But after these happened, Paul set in Spirit to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia, saying that, “After I go there, it is necessary for me to see Rome too.”
But sending two of those ministering to him into Macedonia – Timothy and Erastus – he remained awhile in Asia. But not a small trouble happened at that time about the way. For a certain silversmith, Demetrius by name, making silver shrines to Diana, supplied not a small profit to the artisans. Calling them together and those who were of the same trade, he said, “Men, you know that the gain to us is from this work. And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all Asia, this Paul, persuading, turns a great crowd away, saying that those who are made by hands aren’t gods. But not only this portion of ours will be in danger of coming to nothing, yet the temple of the great goddess Diana will be considered as nothing. Yet also her majesty will begin to be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world serves.”
Hearing these words, they were filled with fury, and they shouted out, saying, “Diana of the Ephesians is great!”
And the city was filled with confusion, and, taking Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonian companions of Paul, they rushed with one soul into the theater. But when Paul wanted to go in to the people, the disciples wouldn’t permit him. But some of the princes also from Asia who were his friends sent to him, begging that he not go into the theater. But others were shouting something else, for the assembly was confused, and many didn’t know why they had come together. But they dragged Alexander from the crowd, the Jews pushing him forward. So Alexander, asking for silence by hand, wanted to give a reason to the people. As they recognized him to be a Jew, one voice came from all for around two hours, shouting, “Diana of the Ephesians is great!”
And when the clerk had calmed the crowds down, he said, “Ephesian men, who is the man who doesn’t know the Ephesians’ city to be a worshiper of great Diana, and the offspring of Jove? When therefore these things cannot be contradicted, it is necessary for you to be calm, and to do nothing rashly, for you brought these men in, neither defiling the temple nor blaspheming your goddess. Yet if Demetrius and those artisans who are with him have a cause against anyone, the public courts carry on, and there are counsels. Let them accuse each other. But if you seek another thing, it can be absolved in a lawful assembly, for we are in danger of being accused of today’s sedition, when there is no one liable, of whom we can give a reason for this
assembly.”
And when he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.
Acts 20.
But after the tumult ceased, Paul, calling the disciples and encouraging them, said goodbye and set out so he could go to Macedonia. But when he had walked through those parts and had encouraged them with many a word, he came to Greece, where, when he had worked three months, traps were made by the Jews, as he was about to sail to Syria. He took counsel, so he went back through Macedonia. But he was accompanied by Sopater of Pyrrhus, from Berea, and Aristarchus and Secundus the Thessalonians; and Gaius of Derbe; and Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia. These, when they had gone before, waited for us in Troas.
And we sailed from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and we came to them in Troas in five days, where we stayed seven days. But on the first day of the Sabbath, when we had met together for breaking bread, Paul taught them, continuing to the next day. And he dragged the sermon on even to midnight. But there were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. But a certain youth named Eutychus was sitting on an upper window when he lapsed into a heavy sleep, while Paul still preached. Led by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. When Paul had come down to him, he lay down over him, and, embracing him, said, “Don’t be troubled, for his soul is in him.”
But getting up, and breaking bread, and tasting it, speaking enough, even to light, so he set out. But they brought the boy in living, and were consoled not a little.
But we, going up onto the boat, sailed to Assos, from which we took up Paul, for so he had arranged, making the journey by land. But when they had come to us in Assos, taking him up, we came to Mytilene. And sailing from there the following day, we came facing Chios, and the next we stuck close to Samos. And the following day we came to Miletus, for Paul had proposed to sail past Ephesus, that he not make a delay in Asia. For he hurried that he make the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem, if it were possible for him.
But sending to Ephesus from Miletus, he called the assembly’s elder born, who, when they had come to him and were together, he said to them, “You know from the first day when I went into Asia, how I was with you through all the time, serving the Lord with all humility and tears, and the testings that fell to me from the Jews’ plots – how I kept back nothing profitable, that I might proclaim all to you, and teach you publicly and in houses; testifying to Jews and Gentiles of repentance to God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, look – bound by Spirit, I go to Jerusalem, not knowing what may happen to me in it, except that Holy Spirit in all the cities bears witness to me, saying that chains and troubles
await me. Yet I dread nothing of those, nor do I make the soul more precious than me, provided that I complete my course and ministry, which I received from the Lord Jesus – to testify to the good news of God’s grace. “And now, look – I know that you will not see my face again, all of you through whom I’ve passed, preaching God’s kingdom. For which reason I testify to you today, that I am clean from the blood of all, for I have not concealed anything, so I proclaim less than all of God’s counsel to you. Pay attention to yourselves, and to all the flock among whom you serve. Holy Spirit has appointed overseers to guide God’s assembly, which He acquired by His blood. I know that after my leaving, fierce wolves will enter among you, not sparing the flock. And men speaking perverse words will rise among you yourselves, so they may lead disciples away after them. Because of that, watch, keeping memory that through three years I did not cease day and night warning each one of you with tears. And now, I commend you to God and to His word of grace, who is mighty to build and to give an inheritance among all His holy ones. I lusted after no one’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that what things were needed by me and those who were with me, these hands ministered. I have shown you all, for so laboring, it is necessary to bear the weak, and to remember the Lord Jesus’ word – for he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
And when he had said these things, getting on his knees, he prayed with all of them. But great weeping came from all, and throwing themselves on Paul’s neck, they kissed him, grieving greatly at the word that he had said, that they would not see his face further. And they led him to the ship.
Acts 21.
But when it had happened that we departed from them, we sailed by a straight course. We came to Chos, and the following day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. And when we had found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, getting aboard, we sailed. But when we had seen Cyprus and, leaving it to the left, were sailing to Syria, we also came to Tyre – for there the cargo was taken off the ship. But finding disciples, we stayed there seven days. They said to Paul by Spirit that he not go up to Jerusalem. And the days completed, setting out, we went, all of them leading us out, with their wives and children, even outside the city. And getting down on knees on the seashore, we prayed. And when we had said goodbye to each other, we went up on the ship, but they went back to their own.
We indeed, completing the cruise from Tyre, went down to Ptolemais. And, saluting the brothers, we stayed one day with them. But setting out the next day, we came to Caesarea. And going into Philip the
evangelist’s house, who was of the seven, we stayed with him. But there were four virgin daughters to him, prophesying. And while we stayed some days, a certain prophet named Agabus came from Judea. He, when he had come to us, took Paul’s belt and, binding himself hand and foot, said, “Holy Spirit says this:‘So the Jews will bind the man whose belt this is in Jerusalem, and hand you over in the nations’ hand.’”
When we had heard that, we and those who were in that place begged him that he not go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered and said, “Why are you making a weeping and afflicting my heart, for I am prepared not only to be bound, but to die in Jerusalem for the Lord Jesus’ name.”
And when we couldn’t persuade him, we were quiet, saying, “The Lord’s will be done.”
But after those days, prepared, we went up to Jerusalem. But some of the disciples from Caesarea came with us, bringing Mnason, a certain longtime disciple from Cyprus, with whom we would lodge. And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us freely. But the next day, Paul went in with us to Jacob, and all the elders were gathered. When he had saluted them, he told each of the works that God had done among the nations through his ministry. And they, when they had heard, magnified God, and they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews who have believed, and all are imitators of the law. But they’ve heard about you that you teach those of the Jews who are among the Gentiles to pull away from Moses, saying they ought not circumcise their sons or go in according to custom.
“So what is it? Certainly, it is necessary to call the multitude together, for they will hear you have come. Therefore, do this that we say to you. There are four men among us having a vow on them. Taking them up, sanctify yourself with them, and pay for them that they may shave their heads, and all will know that what things they’ve heard about you are false, yet you also walk keeping the law. But we have written of those who have believed among the nations, judging that they keep themselves from meat offered to idols, and blood, and things strangled, and fornication.”
Then Paul, taking the men, purified with them the next day, went into the temple, announcing completion of the days of purification, until the sacrifice could be offered for each one of them. But while the seven days were being completed, those Jews who were from Asia, when they had seen him in the temple, stirred up all the people. And they laid hands on him, shouting, “Israelite men, help us! Here is the man who is teaching all people everywhere against the people and the law and this place. More so, he also brought Gentiles into the temple, and violated this holy place.”
(For they had seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, whom they assumed that Paul had brought into the temple.).
And the whole city was troubled, and a coming together of the people happened. And seizing Paul, they dragged him outside the temple, and gates were shut at once. But while they sought to kill him, it was told the cohort’s tribune that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. He, at once taking up soldiers and centurions, ran to them. They, when they had seen the tribune and soldiers, stopped beating Paul. Then the tribune, coming near, seized him and ordered him bound by two chains. And he questioned him who he was and what he had done. But others were shouting something else in the crowds, and when he couldn’t know for sure because of the uproar, he commanded him to be led into the camps. And when he had come to the steps, it happened that he was carried by the soldiers, because of the people’s violence, for the multitude of people followed, shouting, “Take him away!”
And when Paul had begun to be led into the camps, he says to the tribune, “Is it legal for me to say something to you?”
He said, “Have you known Greek? Aren’t you the Egyptian who before these days stirred up a riot, and led four thousand men of the assassins into the desert?”
And Paul said to him, “I’m a Jewish man indeed, from Cilician Tarsus, not a native of an unknown city. But I ask you, let me speak to the people.”
And when he had permitted him, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned by hand to the people and, a great silence falling, he spoke in the Hebrew tongue, saying,
Acts 22.
“Men, brothers and fathers, listen to that reason I now give you!”
But when they had heard that he speaks to them in the Hebrew tongue, they offered more silence. And he said, “I am a Jewish man, born in Cilician Tarsus, yet raised in this city at Gamaliel’s feet, taught according to the truth of the ancestral law, an imitator of the law as are all of you today; who persecuted this way even to death, binding and handing over men and women into custody; as the priests’ prince returns testimony to me, and all the elder born. Receiving letters from him to the brothers in Damascus, I went so I could bring them chained from there to Jerusalem – so they could be punished.
“But it happened as I was going and approaching Damascus, at midday, a considerable light from the sky suddenly flashed around me. And, falling to the ground, I heard a voice saying, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
“But I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’
“And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus Nazarene, whom you persecute.’
“And those who were with me indeed saw the light, but they didn’t hear his voice who spoke to me. And I said, ‘What will I do, Lord?’
“But the Lord said to me, ‘Getting up, go to Damascus, and it will be told you there what is necessary for you to do.’
“And when I couldn’t see for that light’s brightness, led by the hand by my companions, I came to Damascus. But Ananias, a certain man having testimony according to law from all the Jewish inhabitants, coming to me and standing by, said to me, ‘Brother Saul, look!’
“And at that same hour, I looked at him. And he said, ‘Our fathers’ God ordained you in advance, that you know His will, and see the Righteous One, and hear the voice from His mouth – for you will be his witness to all men of those that you’ve seen and heard. And now, why are you waiting? Get up, be baptized, and wash away your sins, invoking his name!’
“But it happened as I was going back to Jerusalem and praying in the temple, being in my mind’s ecstacy, to see him saying to me, ‘Hurry and go out quickly from Jerusalem, for they won’t accept your testimony about me.’
“And I said, ‘Lord, they know that I was shutting those who believed in you in jail, and beating them in synagogues. And when Stephen your witness’s blood was poured out, I was standing by, and consenting, and keeping the clothes of those killing him.’
“And he said to me, Go, for I will send you to nations far away.’”
But they listened to him even to this word, and lifted up their voice, saying, “Take this sort away from the earth, for it isn’t right for him to live!”
But while they were shouting, and throwing down their garments, and throwing dust in the air, the tribune commanded him to be led into the camps, and to be beaten with whips, and to torture him – so he could know why they shouted against him so. And while they were tying him up with straps, Paul said to the centurion standing by him, “Is it legal to beat an uncondemned Roman man?”
Hearing which, the centurion came to the tribune, and announced, saying, “What are you about to do, for this man is a Roman citizen?”
But the tribune, coming near, said to him, “Tell me, are you Roman?”
And he said, “Yes.”
And the tribune answered, “I attained this citizenship for a great price.”
And Paul said, “But I was born this way”
So those who were to torture him pulled back from him at once. The tribune likewise was afraid after he learned that he was a Roman citizen, and that he had bound him. But the following day, wanting to know diligently why he was accused by the Jews, he untied him, and he commanded the priests and all the council to come together. And bringing Paul out, he stood him among them.
Acts 23.
But Paul, looking intently at the council, said, “Men, brothers, I have carried on in all good conscience before God even to the present day.”
But the priests’ prince, Ananias, commanded those standing by to strike his mouth. Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, white-washed wall! And you, sitting down, judge me according to the law, and command me to be struck against the law.”
And those who were standing by said, “You are speaking ill of God’s high priest.”
But Paul said, “I didn’t know, brothers, that he is the priests’ prince, for it is written: ‘You will not speak ill of your people’s prince.’”
But Paul, knowing that one part was Sadducees and the other Pharisees, shouted, “Men, brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am judged for the hope and resurrection of the dead.”
And when he had said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the multitude was divided – for the Sadducees say there is neither resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees on the other hand confess both. But a great clamor happened, and some of the Pharisees, getting up, fought, saying, “We find nothing harmful in this man. What if a spirit or angel spoke to him?”
And while a great argument took place, the tribune, fearing that Paul might be torn apart, commanded the soldiers to go down, and take him away from among them, and lead him out into the camps.
But the following night, the Lord, standing by him, said, “Be steady, for as you’ve testified about me in Jerusalem, so it is necessary for you to testify also in Rome.”
But when day came, some of the Jews came together and pledged themselves, swearing neither to eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. But there were more than forty who made this conspiracy. They came to the priests’ princes and elders, and said, “We’ve pledged an oath to taste nothing until we kill Paul. Now then, make known to the tribune with the council that he bring him to you, as if wanting to know something more certainly from him. Yet before he will come close, we are ready to kill him.”
When Paul’s sister’s son had heard this plot, he came, and went into the camps, and told Paul. But Paul, calling one of the centurions to him, said, “Bring this youth to the tribune, for he has something to tell him.”
And he, indeed, taking him up, led him to the tribune, and he said, “Paul the prisoner, calling, asked me to bring this youth to you, having something to say to you.”
But the tribune, taking him by his hand, went apart with him, and he asked him, “What is it that you have to tell me?”
But he said, “It comes from the Jews – to ask you that you bring Paul out to the council tomorrow morning, as if they want to question something more certainly from him. Yet you must not believe them, for there are more than forty men among them who have sworn themselves to neither eat nor drink until they kill him. And now, they are ready, waiting for your promise.”
Therefore the tribune let the youth go, commanding that he not tell anyone that he had made this known to him. And calling two centurions, he said to him, “Prepare two hundred soldiers so they can go to Caesarea, and seventy cavalry, and two hundred lancers, at the third hour of the night. And prepare animals so, putting Paul on them, they can bring him safe to President Felix,” writing a letter containing this:
“Claudius Lysias, to the noblest President Felix, health: This man, seized by the Jews and beginning to be killed by them, I rescued – knowing that he is Roman, coming with the army. Wanting to know the reason why they opposed him, I led him into their council. I found him to be accused of questions about their law, having nothing of a crime worthy of
death or chains. And when it had been told me about ambushes that they have prepared against him, I sent to you, telling the accusers also that they speak with you.”
So the soldiers, taking Paul up with them according to the command, led him by night to Antipatris. And the following day, dismissing the cavalry so they could go with him, they went back to the camps. They, when they had come to Caesarea and
handed the letter to the president, stood Paul before him also. But when Felix had read it, and asked what province he was from, and knowing that he was from Cilicia, he said “I will hear you when your accusers come too.”
And he commanded him to be held in Herod’s headquarters.
Acts 24.
But after five days, Ananias, the priests’ prince, came down with some of the elders, and Tertullus, a certain orator, who stood before the president against Paul. And Paul being summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “When we live in much peace through you, and many matters are corrected by your providence, we support you always and everywhere, excellent Felix, with every action of thanks. Yet that I might not detain you further, I pray briefly you may hear us by your mercy. We have found this man pestilential and stirring up rebellions among all the Jews in all the world, and an author of the Nazarene sect’s rebellions, who even tried to violate the temple, whom we also arrested – of whom you may judge, to know about all these things of which we accuse him.”
But the Jews also spoke, claiming this to be so. But the president nodding to him to speak, Paul answered, “I will be satisfied on my part, knowing you to be this nation’s judge by a good soul for many years – for you can know that not more than twelve days have passed for me since I went up to worship in Jerusalem. And they found me in the temple neither disputing with anyone, nor making a gathering of a crowd, either in the synagogue or in the city; nor can they prove to you those matters of which they now accuse me.
“But I confess this to you, that according to the sect which they call a heresy, so I serve my fathers’ God, believing all that are written in the law and the prophets, having hope in God, which these themselves also await – the future resurrection of the righteous and the wicked. In this also I myself study to have a conscience without offense toward God and toward men, always.
“But after many years I came, making alms and offerings and promises to my nation, in which they found me, purified in the temple, not with a crowd or with an uproar. But there are some Jews from Asia who ought to be present with you and accuse, if they have something against me. Or let these themselves say if they found some iniquity in me when I stood in the council, except for this one voice only which I cried out, standing among them, that, ‘I am judged by you today for the resurrection of the dead.’”
But Felix put them off, knowing most certainly of the way, saying, “When the tribune Lysias comes down, I will hear you.”
And he commanded a centurion to guard him and to have mercy, nor to keep any of his friends from ministering to him. But after some days Felix, coming with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, called Paul, and heard from him the faith that is in Jesus Christ. But as he spoke to him about righteousness, and purity, and about the future judgment, Felix, fearful, answered, “Go away for the time that now holds. But I will come to you at a convenient time.”
At the same time also, hoping that a bribe would be given by Paul, and coming near him often because of that, he spoke with him. But when two years were completed, Felix received a successor, Porcius Festus. Yet wanting to supply a favor to the Jews, Felix left Paul chained.
Acts 25.
So Festus, when he had come into the province, went up after three days to Jerusalem from Caesarea. And the priests’ princes and Jewish nobles came together against Paul, and they prayed Festus, asking a favor against him, that he command
him to be led to Jerusalem, ambushes being set so they could kill him on the road. But Festus answered that Paul was kept in Caesarea, and he himself quickly setting out there. So he said, “Let the powerful ones among you accuse him, going down together, if there is a crime in the man.”
But waiting among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day, he sat before the tribunal, and commanded Paul to be brought in. When he had been led in, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, throwing at him many serious accusations which they couldn’t prove. But Paul, giving a reason, said that, “Neither in the Jews’ law, nor in the temple, nor in Caesar have I sinned in anything.”
But Festus, wanting to provide the Jews a favor, answering Paul, said, “Do you want to go up to Jerusalem and be judged there with me about these matters?”
But Paul said, “I stand before Caesar’s tribunal, where it is necessary for me to be judged. I have not harmed the Jews, as you well know. Yet if I’ve harmed, or done something worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. Yet if there is nothing in those which they accuse me of, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.”
Then Festus, when he had spoken with the council, answered, “You’ve appealed to Caesar. You will go to Caesar.”
And when some days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea to salute Festus. And while they stayed there many days, Festus told the king about Paul, saying, “A certain man was left chained by Felix, of whom the priests’ princes and Jewish elders spoke to me when I was in Jerusalem, asking damnation against him – to whom I answered that it is not Roman custom to give any man before he who is accused has the accusers present, and receives place to defend himself for the washing away of the accusations. So when they had gathered here, without any delay, sitting the next day before the tribunal, I commanded the man to be brought in. About whom, when the accusers had stood, they brought no accusation of that which I suspected harm. Yet they had certain questions against him about their own superstition, and about a certain dead Jesus, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. But I, unsure about this sort of question, asked if he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be judged there about these things. But when Paul appealed that he be kept for Augustus’s examination, I commanded him to be kept until I can send him to Caesar.”
But Agrippa said to Festus, “I myself wanted to hear this man too.”
“Tomorrow,” Festus said, “you will hear him.”
But the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with much pomp, and had gone into the auditorium with the tribunes and the city’s principal men also, Paul was brought in at Festus’ command. And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all the men who are present with us, you see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews interrupted me in Jerusalem, asking and shouting that he ought not live further. Yet I found nothing worthy to put him to death. But since he appealed this to Augustus, I judged to send him. I do not have what I can write about him for certain to my lord. For this reason, I brought him out to you all, and most of all to you, King Agrippa, that, making an interrogation, I may have something I can write – for it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner, and not to indicate his charges.”
Acts 26.
And Agrippa said to Paul, “It is permitted to you to speak for yourself.”
Then Paul, stretching out the hand, began to give a reason. “I consider myself happy when I may defend myself today before you, King Agrippa, about all things which I am accused of by the Jews – most of all, because you know all the customs and questions that are with the Jews. Because of this, I pray that you hear me patiently. And indeed, all the Jews have known my life from its youth, which from the beginning was among my nation in Jerusalem, knowing me in advance from the beginning – if they care to offer witness – that I lived a Pharisee according to the most certain sect of our religion. And now, I stand subject to judgment in the hope that came as a promise to our fathers from God, to which our twelve tribes hope to come, serving night and day, of which hope I am accused by the Jews, O king.
“Why is it judged unbelievable with you if God raises the dead? And I myself indeed thought that I ought to carry out many contrary things against Jesus Nazarene’s name, which I also did in Jerusalem. And I locked up many of the holy ones in prison, receiving authority from the priests’ princes. And when they were killed, I conveyed the sentence. And punishing them often through all the synagogues, I compelled them to blaspheme, and raging further among them, I pursued them even to foreign cities. In which, while I was going to Damascus with authority and permission from the priests’ princes, at midday on the road, I and those who were together with me saw, O king, light flash from the sky around me, beyond the sun’s splendor. And when all of us had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew tongue, ‘Saul, Saul, why are persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goad.’
“But I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’
“And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you persecute. Yet get up, and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this: that I may appoint you minister and witness of those that you’ve seen, and of those in which I will appear to you, rescuing you from the people and nations to which I now send you – to open their eyes, that they be converted from shadows to light, and from Satan’s authority to God, that they receive forgiveness of sins, and a portion among the holy ones, through the faith that is in me.’
“From which, King Agrippa, I was not unbelieving to the heavenly vision, yet I told first those who are in Damascus, and Jerusalem, and to all the Jews’ region, and to the nations, that they should act out penance and be converted to God, doing works worthy of repentance. The Jews tried to kill me for this reason, seizing me when I was in the temple. But by the help of God’s encouragement even to the present day, I stand testifying to small and great, saying nothing more than those that the prophets and Moses said would be in the future – if Christ suffered, if he were first of the dead’s resurrection, he would show a light to the people and nations.”
While he was saying this and giving the reason, Festus said in a great voice, “Paul, you are insane! Many letters turn you insane!”
And Paul said, “I am not insane, excellent Festus, yet I speak words of truth and sobriety – for the king knows about these things, to whom I speak surely. For I consider nothing of these hidden from him, neither was anything of these done in a corner. Do you believe the prophets, King Agrippa? I know that you believe.”
But Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you persuade me so quickly to be a Christian?”
And Paul said, “I wish before God, both quickly and at length, not only you but all those who hear me today might be such as I am, except for these chains.”
And the king got up, and the president, and Bernice, and those who stood near them. And when they had gone apart, they were saying to each other that, “What this man does is nothing worthy of death or chains.”
But Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could be released, if he hadn’t appealed to Caesar.”
Acts 27.
But as it was judged for him to sail to Italy, and Paul with the other prisoners was handed over to a centurion named Julius, of the Augustan cohort, going up into a Hadrumentian ship beginning to sail around places in Asia, we took up, Aristarchus of Macedonian Thessalonica continuing with us. But the following day we came to Sidon, and Julius, treating Paul humanely, allowed him to go to his friends and see to his need. And when we had taken up from there, we sailed under Cyprus because the winds were contrary. And sailing over the open sea of Cilicia and Pamphilia, we came to Lystra, which is in Lycia. And the centurion, finding an Alexandrian ship there sailing to Italy, placed us on it.
And when we had sailed slowly many days, and had hardly come facing Cnidus, the wind preventing us, we sailed to Crete, making for Salmone. And sailing past with difficulty, we came to a certain place which was called Good harbor, which was beside Thalassa city. But much time having passed, and when it was already unsafe to sail, because the fast had already passed, Paul consoled them, saying to them, “Men, I see that the voyage begins to be with injury and much loss, not only to the cargo and ship, yet even to our souls.”
But the centurion believed the pilot and ship master more than those words that were said by Paul. And since the port was not fit to winter in, the counsel of many stood to sail from there, if somehow they might winter, coming to Phoenice, a Cretan port, looking to the southwest and northwest. But the south wind blowing, thinking themselves to have the goal, when they had taken up from Asson, they were reading Crete. But not long after, a typhoon wind which was called the Northeaster blew against them. And when the ship was caught, and couldn’t come around into the wind, we were driven, giving the ship to the blowing winds.
But running up under a certain island which was called Caudas, we could hardly get hold of the boat, which, being taken up, they used helpers, undergirding the ship. Fearing that they might run into Syrtim, letting down the sail, so they were driven. But being tossed strongly by the storm, the following day they made a lightening (of the ship), and the third day they threw the ship’s armament over with their own hands. But with neither sun nor stars appearing for many days, and not a small storm already hanging over us, all hope of our safety was taken away. And when the fasting had lasted a long time, then Paul, standing in their midst, said, “It was necessary indeed, O men, listening to me, not to take up from Crete, and gain this injury and loss. And now I urge you to be of good spirit, for there will be no loss of life among you, other than the ship, for the angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood by me this night, saying, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul. It is necessary for you to stand before Caesar. And look, God has given you all who sail with you.’
“For this reason, be of good spirit, men, for I believe God, that as He said to me, so it will be. But we must come up under a certain island.”
Yet after the fourteenth night came over us, while we were sailing in Hadria, around midnight, the sailors suspected themselves to be nearing some country. They, sounding, found a depth of twenty and, moving a little from there, they found a depth of fifteen. But fearing to be torn open in rough places, casting out four anchors from the stern, they longed for day to come. Yet the sailors, seeking to escape from the ship when they had put the boat into the sea under pretense, as if beginning to stretch out the anchors from the prow, Paul said to the centurion and soldiers, “Unless these stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.”
Then the soldiers cut away the boat’s lines, and they allowed it to fall away. And when the light began to dawn, Paul begged all to take food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day of waiting. You’ve remained fasting, taking nothing. Because of that, I pray you to take food for your health, because not one hair of your heads will perish.”
And when he had said that, taking bread, he gave thanks to God in the sight of all. And when he had broken it, he began to eat. But all becoming calmer, they also took food. Yet we were two hundred seventy-six, all the souls in the ship. And filled with food, they lightened the ship, throwing the wheat in the sea. But when day had come, they didn’t recognize the land. Yet they looked over a certain bay having a shore, in which they planned to beach the ship, if they could. And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves to the sea, at once relaxing the rudder’s joints. And lifting the topsail into the blowing breeze, they headed to the shore.
And when we had fallen into a place where the two seas met, they ran the ship aground, and the prow, fixed indeed, remained immobile. Yet the stern was broken up by the sea’s force. But the soldiers’ counsel was that they kill the prisoners, unless someone escape when he swam away. But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, forbade it to be done. And he commanded those who could swim to throw themselves in first, and escape, and go to land. And they carried the rest, some on boards, and others on those pieces that were from the ship, and so it happened that all the souls escaped to land.
Acts 28.
And when we had escaped, then we knew that the island was called Malta. And the barbarians furnished us not a small measure of humanity, for, kindling a fire, they refreshed all of us, because of the rain that hung over and the cold. But when Paul had gathered a certain multitude of brush, and had placed it on the fire, a viper, when it had come out from the heat, bit his hand. Yet as the barbarians saw the beast hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “Surely this man is a murderer, who, when he had escaped from the sea, Revenge does not allow to live.”
And he indeed, shaking the beast off into the fire, suffered no harm. And they were expecting him to swell up, and fall suddenly, and die, but while they were waiting and watching, seeing nothing harmful happen to him, turning themselves, they claimed him to be a god. But in that place were the farms of the island’s prince, named Publius, who, receiving us for three days, showed kindness. But it happened that Publius’s father lay vexed by fever and dysentery, to whom Paul went in. And when he had prayed and laid hands on him, he healed him. Once that happened, all on the island who had infirmities also came near and were healed. They also honored us with many honors, and when we sailed, they placed aboard what things were needed.
But after three months, we sailed in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered in the island, whose insignia was the Twins. And when we had come to Syracuse, we stayed there three days. Going around from there, we came to Regium, and, after one day, a south breeze blowing, we came the second day to Puteoli, where, finding brothers, we prayed to remain with them seven days, and so we came to Rome.
And from there, when the brothers heard, they met us even at the Appian Forum and Three Taverns. When Paul had seen them, giving thanks to God, he took confidence. But when we had come to Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier guarding him. But after the third day, he called together the Jewish nobles. And when they had come together, he said to them, “Men, brothers, I was handed over chained from Jerusalem into the Romans’ hands, doing nothing against the people or the fathers’ customs. They, when they had questioned me, wanted to let me go, because there was no cause of death against me. But while the Jews were contradicting me, I was forced to appeal to Caesar – not as if having anything to accuse against my nation. For this cause, therefore, I prayed to see and speak to you, for I am bound by this chain on account of Israel’s hope.”
And they said to him, “We haven’t received letters about you from Judea, nor has anyone coming from the brothers told or said something harmful about you. But we ask to hear from you what you think, for this sect is known to us – that it is spoken against everywhere.”
And when they had appointed him a day, many came to him in the lodging, to whom he set forth, testifying to God’s kingdom, and persuading them about Jesus from Moses’ law and the prophets, from morning even to evening. And some believed those words that were said, yet others didn’t believe. And when they weren’t agreeing with each other, they went away, Paul saying one word, that, “Holy Spirit spoke well to our fathers through Isaiah the prophet, saying,
‘Go to this people and say,
You will hear by ear and not understand,
and seeing, you will see and not perceive –
for this people’s heart has grown fat,
and they’ve heard heavily with ears,
and they’ve closed their eyes,
unless perhaps they see with eyes,
and hear with ears,
and understand with heart,
and be converted,
and I heal them.’
"Be it known to you, therefore, that this security of God is sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen.”
But he stayed two years in all in his own rented room, and received all who came in to him, preaching God’s kingdom, and teaching with all confidence what things are about the Lord
