\NormalFont\ShortTitle{ACTS}

{\MTB This book contains the account of the first Christians. We call this book

\par }{\MT Acts



\par }\ChapOne{1}{\SH Acts 1:1-3
\par }
{\SH Luke referred to the Gospel he had written to Theophilus.
\par }
{\PP \VerseOne{1}{\ADD{Dear}} Theophilus,

\par }{\PP In my first book
{\ADD{that I wrote for you}}, I wrote about many of the things that Jesus did and taught

\VS{2}until the day on which he was taken $\{${\ADD{God}} took him$\}$ up
{\ADD{to heaven}}. Before
{\ADD{he went to heaven}}, saying what the Holy Spirit
{\ADD{told him}}, he told the apostles whom he had chosen
{\ADD{the things that he wanted them to know}}.

\VS{3}After he had suffered
{\ADD{and died on the cross}},
{\ADD{he became alive again}}. As he appeared to them
{\ADD{often}} during
{\ADD{the next}} 40 days, the apostles saw him many times. He proved to them in many ways that he was alive again. He talked
{\ADD{with them}} about
{\ADD{how}} God would rule [MET]
{\ADD{the lives of people who accepted him as their king}}.


\par }{\SH Jesus commanded his apostles to wait for the Holy Spirit.
\par }
{\SR Acts 1:4-5

\par }{\PP \VS{4}{\ADD{One time}} while he was with them, he told them, “Do not leave Jerusalem
{\ADD{yet}}. Instead, wait
{\ADD{here}} until my Father sends
{\ADD{his Spirit}} [MTY]
{\ADD{to you}}, as he promised
{\ADD{to do}}. You have heard me speak
{\ADD{to you}} about that.

\VS{5}John baptized people in water
{\ADD{because they said that they wanted to change their lives}}, but after a few days [LIT]
{\ADD{God}} will put the Holy Spirit within you(pl)
{\ADD{to truly change your lives}}.”


\par }{\SH Jesus said that they would tell about him everywhere, and then he ascended to heaven.
\par }
{\SR Acts 1:6-9

\par }{\PP \VS{6}One day when the
{\ADD{apostles}} met together
{\ADD{with Jesus}}, they asked him, “Lord, will you
{\ADD{(sg)}} now become the King [MET] over
{\ADD{us}} Israelite people
{\ADD{like King David, who ruled long ago}}?” (OR, “Lord, will you
{\ADD{(sg)}} now
{\ADD{defeat the Romans and}} restore the kingdom
{\ADD{to us}} Israelite people?”)

\VS{7}He replied to them, “You do not
{\ADD{need}} to know the time
{\ADD{periods}} and days
{\ADD{when that will happen}}. My Father alone has decided
{\ADD{when he will make me king}}.

\VS{8}But
{\ADD{you do need to know that}} the Holy Spirit will make you
{\ADD{spiritually}} strong when he comes to live in you. Then you will
{\ADD{powerfully}} tell people about me in Jerusalem and in all
{\ADD{the other places in}} Judea
{\ADD{district}}, in Samaria
{\ADD{district}}, and in places far away all over [IDM] the world.”

\VS{9}After he said that, he was taken $\{${\ADD{God}} took him$\}$ up
{\ADD{to heaven}}, while they were watching.
{\ADD{He went up into}} a cloud [PRS], which prevented them from seeing him
{\ADD{any more}}.


\par }{\SH Angels told the apostles that Jesus would return later.
\par }
{\SR Acts 1:10-11

\par }{\PP \VS{10}While
{\ADD{the apostles}} were
{\ADD{still}} staring towards the sky as he was going up, suddenly two men who were wearing white clothes stood beside them.
{\ADD{They were angels}}.

\VS{11}One
{\ADD{of}} them said, “You men from Galilee
{\ADD{district}}, ◄you do not need to stand
{\ADD{here any longer}} looking up at the sky!/why do you still stand
{\ADD{here}} looking up at the sky?► [RHQ]
{\ADD{Some day}} this same Jesus, whom
{\ADD{God}} took from you up to heaven, will come back
{\ADD{to earth}}. He will return in the same manner as you
{\ADD{just now}} saw him when he went up to heaven,
{\ADD{but he will not return now}}.”


\par }{\SH The apostles and other believers often prayed together.
\par }
{\SR Acts 1:12-14

\par }{\PP \VS{12}Then
{\ADD{after the two angels left}}, the apostles returned to Jerusalem from Olive
{\ADD{Tree}} Hill, which was about ◄a half mile/one kilometer► [MTY] from Jerusalem.

\VS{13}When they entered
{\ADD{the city}}, they went upstairs to the room
{\ADD{in the house}} where they were staying.
{\ADD{Those who were there included}} Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew,
{\ADD{another}} James
{\ADD{the son}} of Alphaeus, Simon who belonged to the group that wanted to expel the Romans, and Judas
{\ADD{the son}} of
{\ADD{another man named}} James.

\VS{14}All these apostles agreed concerning the things about which they continually were praying
{\ADD{together. Others who prayed with them}} included the women
{\ADD{who had accompanied Jesus}}, Mary who was Jesus’ mother, and his
{\ADD{younger}} brothers.


\par }{\SH Peter told them why someone must replace Judas.
\par }
{\SR Acts 1:15-17

\par }{\PP \VS{15}During those days Peter stood up among his fellow believers. There were
{\ADD{at that place}} a group of about 120 of
{\ADD{Jesus’ followers}}. Peter said,

\VS{16}“My fellow believers,
{\ADD{there are words that King}} David wrote [MTY] in the Scriptures long ago that needed to be fulfilled $\{$to happen
{\ADD{as he said they would}}$\}$. The Holy Spirit,
{\ADD{who knew that Judas would be the one who would fulfill those words}}, told David what to write.

\VS{17}{\ADD{Although}} Judas had been chosen $\{${\ADD{Jesus}} had chosen Judas$\}$, along with
{\ADD{the rest of}} us
{\ADD{(exc)}} to serve
{\ADD{as an apostle}}, Judas was the person who led to Jesus the people who seized him.”


\par }{\SH How Judas died.
\par }
{\SR Acts 1:18-19

\par }{\PP \VS{18}{\ADD{The Jewish leaders}} gave Judas money when he
{\ADD{promised to}} treacherously/wickedly
{\ADD{betray Jesus. Later Judas returned that money to them}}. When Judas
{\ADD{hanged himself}}, his body fell down
{\ADD{to the ground}}. His abdomen burst open, and all his intestines spilled out.
{\ADD{So}} the
{\ADD{Jewish leaders}} bought a field
{\ADD{using}} that money.

\VS{19}All the people who reside in Jerusalem heard
{\ADD{about that}}, so they called that field in their own
{\ADD{Aramaic}} language, Akeldama, which means ‘Field of Blood’,
{\ADD{because it was where someone bled and died}}.


\par }{\SH Peter quoted from the Psalms about Judas.
\par }
{\SR Acts 1:20

\par }{\PP \VS{20}{\ADD{Peter also said}}, “{\ADD{I perceive that what happened to Judas is like what the writer of}} Psalms
{\ADD{desired to happen}}: ‘May his house become deserted, and may there be no one to live in it.’ (OR, ‘{\ADD{Judge him, Lord, so that neither he nor}} anyone
{\ADD{else}} may live in his house!)’ And it seems that
{\ADD{these other words that David wrote also refer to Judas:}} ‘Let someone else take over his work as a leader.’ ”


\par }{\SH Peter concluded that they needed to choose a man to replace Judas.
\par }
{\SR Acts 1:21-22

\par }{\PP \VS{21}“So it is necessary
{\ADD{for us apostles}} to choose a man
{\ADD{to replace Judas. He must be one who}} accompanied [MTY] us all the time when the Lord Jesus was with us.

\VS{22}{\ADD{That would be}} from
{\ADD{the time when}} John
{\ADD{the Baptizer}} baptized
{\ADD{Jesus}} until the day when Jesus was taken $\{$when
{\ADD{God}} took Jesus$\}$ from us up
{\ADD{to heaven}}. He must be one who saw Jesus alive again
{\ADD{after he died}}.”


\par }{\SH Jesus’ followers prayed and then chose Matthias to replace Judas.
\par }
{\SR Acts 1:23-26

\par }{\PP \VS{23}So the
{\ADD{apostles and other believers}} suggested
{\ADD{the names of two men who qualified. One man was}} Joseph, who was called $\{$whom people called$\}$ Barsabbas (OR, Joseph Barsabbas) who
{\ADD{also}} had the
{\ADD{Roman}} name Justus. The other man was Matthias.

\VS{24-25}Then they prayed like this: “Lord
{\ADD{Jesus}}, Judas stopped being an apostle.
{\ADD{He died and}} went to the place where he
{\ADD{deserved to be}} [EUP].
{\ADD{So we(exc) need to choose someone}} to replace
{\ADD{Judas in order}} that he can serve
{\ADD{you(sg) by becoming}} an apostle. You
{\ADD{(sg)}} know what everyone is really like. So
{\ADD{please}} show us which of these two men you have chosen.”

\VS{26}Then they cast lots
{\ADD{to choose between the two of}} them, and the lot fell for Matthias. (OR, Then
{\ADD{one of}} the
{\ADD{apostles}} shook
{\ADD{in a container}} small objects/stones
{\ADD{that}} they
{\ADD{had marked to determine which man God had chosen}}. And the small object/stone
{\ADD{that they had marked}} for Matthias fell
{\ADD{out of the container}}). So Matthias was considered $\{$they considered Matthias$\}$
{\ADD{to be an apostle}} along with the
{\ADD{other}} eleven apostles.




\par }\Chap{2}{\SH The Holy Spirit came and enabled the disciples to speak other languages.
\par }
{\SR Acts 2:1-4

\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}On the day when
{\ADD{the Jews were celebrating the}} Pentecost
{\ADD{festival}}, the
{\ADD{believers}} were all together in one place
{\ADD{in Jerusalem}}.

\VS{2}Suddenly
{\ADD{they heard}} a noise
{\ADD{coming}} from the sky
{\ADD{that sounded}} like a strong wind. Everyone in the entire house where they were sitting heard the noise.

\VS{3}Then they saw
{\ADD{what looked}} like flames of fire. These flames separated
{\ADD{from one another}}, and
{\ADD{one of them}} came down on
{\ADD{the head of}} each of the believers.

\VS{4}Then all of the believers were ◄completely controlled/empowered► by the Holy Spirit $\{$the Holy Spirit ◄completely controlled/empowered► all of the believers$\}$, and he enabled them to begin speaking other languages [MTY]
{\ADD{that they had not learned}}.


\par }{\SH Jews from many places were amazed to hear their native languages spoken by the believers.
\par }
{\SR Acts 2:5-13

\par }{\PP \VS{5}At that time
{\ADD{many}} Jews were staying in Jerusalem
{\ADD{to celebrate the Pentecost festival. They were people who}} always tried to obey
{\ADD{the Jewish}} laws.
{\ADD{They had come}} from many different [HYP] countries.

\VS{6}When they heard that
{\ADD{loud}} noise
{\ADD{like a wind}}, a crowd came together
{\ADD{to the place where the believers were}}. The crowd ◄was amazed/did not know what to think►, because each of them was hearing
{\ADD{one of}} the believers speaking in that person’s own language.

\VS{7}They were completely amazed, and they said
{\ADD{to each other}}, “All these men who are speaking have [RHQ]
{\ADD{always}} resided in Galilee
{\ADD{district, so they would not know our languages}}.

\VS{8}◄{\ADD{We(inc) do not understand}} how these men can speak our own native languages!/How can these men speak our own native languages?► [RHQ]
{\ADD{But}} all of us hear them
{\ADD{doing that}}

\VS{9}{\ADD{Some of us are from the regions of}} Parthia and Media and Elam, and
{\ADD{others of us}} reside
{\ADD{in the regions of}} Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia.

\VS{10}There are some from Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt, and the regions in Libya
{\ADD{that are}} near Cyrene
{\ADD{city}}.
{\ADD{There are others of us}} who are
{\ADD{here}} visiting
{\ADD{Jerusalem}} from Rome.

\VS{11}{\ADD{They include native}} Jews as well as non-Jews who have accepted what we Jews believe. And others of us are from Crete
{\ADD{Island}} and from
{\ADD{the region of}} Arabia.
{\ADD{So how is it that these people}} are speaking our languages [MTY], telling us
{\ADD{about}} ◄the great/the mighty things►
{\ADD{that}} God has done?”

\VS{12}All
{\ADD{those people}} were amazed, and did not know what to think
{\ADD{about what was happening}}. So they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

\VS{13}But
{\ADD{some}} of them ◄made fun of/laughed at►
{\ADD{those who believed in Jesus}}. They said, “{\ADD{These people are talking like this because}} they are drunk!”


\par }{\SH Peter said that the prophet Joel foretold what the Holy Spirit would do.
\par }
{\SR Acts 2:14-21

\par }{\PP \VS{14}So Peter stood up with the
{\ADD{other}} eleven
{\ADD{apostles}} and spoke loudly to the
{\ADD{crowd of}} people, saying, “{\ADD{My}} fellow Jews and you
{\ADD{others}} who are staying in Jerusalem, listen to me, all of you, and I will explain to you what is happening!

\VS{15}{\ADD{Some of
}} you think that
{\ADD{we(exc) are drunk}}, but we are not drunk. It is
{\ADD{only
}} nine o’clock in the morning,
{\ADD{and people here never get drunk this early}} in the day!

\VS{16}Instead,
{\ADD{what has happened to us is}} the
{\ADD{miraculous}} thing that the prophet Joel wrote about
{\ADD{long ago}}.
{\ADD{Joel wrote}}:

\par }{\PP God says,

\VS{17}‘During the last/final days
{\ADD{before I judge all people}}, I will give my Spirit abundantly/generously to people [SYN] everywhere.
{\ADD{As a result}}, your sons and daughters will tell
{\ADD{people}} messages from me, the young men among you will see visions
{\ADD{from me}}, and the old men among you will have dreams
{\ADD{that I will give them}}.

\VS{18}During those days I will abundantly/generously give my Spirit
{\ADD{even}} to men and women believers
{\ADD{who are}} my slaves/servants, so they can tell
{\ADD{people}} messages from me.

\VS{19}I will cause amazing things to happen in the sky, and I will do miracles on the earth that will show
{\ADD{that I am powerful}}.
{\ADD{Here}} on the earth [CHI] I
{\ADD{will cause wars with}} blood, fire and thick/dark smoke
{\ADD{everywhere}}.

\VS{20}{\ADD{In the sky}} the sun will
{\ADD{appear}} dark
{\ADD{to people}} and the moon
{\ADD{will appear}} red
{\ADD{to them. Those things will happen}} before the important and splendid/amazing day [MTY]
{\ADD{when I}}, the Lord
{\ADD{God, will come to judge everyone}}.

\VS{21}{\ADD{Before that time}}, all those who ask
{\ADD{me}} [MTY]
{\ADD{to save them from the guilt of their sins}} will be saved $\{${\ADD{I}}, the Lord, will save all those who ask
{\ADD{me}} [MTY]
{\ADD{to save them from the guilt of their sins}}.$\}$’ ”


\par }{\SH Peter said, “You killed Jesus but God caused him to live again.”
\par }
{\SR Acts 2:22-24

\par }{\PP \VS{22}{\ADD{Peter continued}}, “{\ADD{My fellow
}} Israelites, listen to me!
{\ADD{When
}} Jesus from Nazareth
{\ADD{town lived
}} among you, God proved to you
{\ADD{that he had sent him
}} by enabling him to do many amazing miracles. You yourselves know
{\ADD{that this is true}}.

\VS{23}{\ADD{Even though you knew that}}, you turned this man
{\ADD{Jesus}} over to his enemies.
{\ADD{However}}, God had already planned for that, and he knew all about it. Then you urged men [SYN] who do not obey
{\ADD{God’s}} law to kill Jesus. They did that by nailing him to a cross.

\VS{24}He suffered terribly
{\ADD{when he died, but God caused him to become alive again}}. God did not let him continue to be dead, because it was not possible for him [PRS] to remain dead.”


\par }{\SH David foretold that the Messiah would rejoice about becoming alive again.
\par }
{\SR Acts 2:25-28

\par }{\PP \VS{25}“{\ADD{Long ago King}} David wrote
{\ADD{what}} the Messiah
{\ADD{said}},

\par }{\PP “ knew
{\ADD{that}} you, Lord
{\ADD{God, would always}} be near me. You are right beside [MTY] me, so I will not be afraid of
{\ADD{those who want to harm me}}.

\VS{26}Because of that I [SYN] joyfully praise
{\ADD{you, O God}}. And I am completely confident that
{\ADD{you(sg) will}} ◄{\ADD{cause my body}} to become alive
{\ADD{again}}/{\ADD{raise me from the dead}}►.

\VS{27}You will not allow my spirit to remain in the place where the dead are. You will not
{\ADD{even}} let my body decay,
{\ADD{because}} I am devoted to you and always obey
{\ADD{you}}.

\VS{28}You have told me
{\ADD{that you will cause my body}} to become alive
{\ADD{again}}. You will make me very happy
{\ADD{because}} you will be with me
{\ADD{forever}}.”


\par }{\SH Peter explained that David wrote that the Messiah would become alive again.
\par }
{\SR Acts 2:29-31

\par }{\PP \VS{29}{\ADD{Peter}} continued, “My fellow Jews, I can tell you confidently that
{\ADD{our royal}} ancestor,
{\ADD{King}} David, died, and that his
{\ADD{body}} was buried $\{$that
{\ADD{people}} buried his
{\ADD{body}}$\}$. And the place
{\ADD{where they}} buried his body is
{\ADD{still}} here today.

\VS{30}So
{\ADD{we(inc) know that David was not speaking those words about himself. But}} because he was a prophet,
{\ADD{he spoke about the Messiah}}. David knew that God had strongly promised him that he would cause one of his descendants to become king [MTY] like David was king. (OR, to
{\ADD{be the Messiah who would}} rule
{\ADD{God’s people}} like David had ruled
{\ADD{them}}.)

\VS{31}David knew beforehand
{\ADD{what God would do}}, so he
{\ADD{was able to}} say that God would cause the Messiah to live again
{\ADD{after he died}}. He said that God would not let the Messiah remain in the place of the dead, nor let his body decay.”


\par }{\SH Peter said, “Jesus has abundantly given us the Holy Spirit, shown by what you see and hear.”
\par }
{\SR Acts 2:32-35

\par }{\PP \VS{32}“{\ADD{After}} this
{\ADD{man}} Jesus
{\ADD{had died}}, God caused him to become alive
{\ADD{again}}. All of us(exc),
{\ADD{his followers}}, have seen
{\ADD{and tell people}} that Jesus has become alive again.

\VS{33}God has greatly honored Jesus
{\ADD{by causing him to rule}} right beside him [MTY]
{\ADD{in heaven}}. Jesus has received the Holy Spirit from
{\ADD{God}} his Father,
{\ADD{just like}} God promised.
{\ADD{So}} Jesus has generously/abundantly given us the Holy Spirit,
{\ADD{and he has shown that by}} what you are seeing and hearing.

\VS{34}{\ADD{We(inc) know that David was not speaking about himself}} because David did not go up into heaven
{\ADD{as Jesus did}}.
{\ADD{Besides that}}, David himself said
{\ADD{this about the Messiah}}:

\par }{\Q The Lord
{\ADD{God}} said to my Lord
{\ADD{the Messiah}}, ‘Reign here beside me,

\VS{35}while I completely defeat [MTY] your enemies.’ ”


\par }{\SH Peter said, “Know surely that God has made this Jesus both Lord and Messiah.”
\par }
{\SR Acts 2:36

\par }{\PP \VS{36}{\ADD{Peter concluded}}, “So I
{\ADD{want you and}} all
{\ADD{other}} Israelites [MTY] to acknowledge that God has caused this Jesus to be both
{\ADD{our}} Lord/Ruler and the Messiah.
{\ADD{But God considers that}} you are the ones who nailed Jesus to a cross.”


\par }{\SH Peter told them to repent, and said that believers would baptize them.
\par }
{\SR Acts 2:37-40

\par }{\PP \VS{37}When the people heard what
{\ADD{Peter said}}, they felt very guilty [IDM]. So they asked him and the other apostles, “Fellow-countrymen, what should we
{\ADD{(exc)}} do
{\ADD{so that God will forgive us}}?”


\par }{\PP \VS{38}Peter
{\ADD{answered}} them, “Each of you should turn away from your sinful behavior. Then
{\ADD{we(exc)}} will baptize you, if
{\ADD{you now believe}} in Jesus Christ. Then
{\ADD{God}} will give you the Holy Spirit.

\VS{39}{\ADD{God}} has promised
{\ADD{to do that}} [MTY] for you and your descendants, and for all
{\ADD{others who believe in him}}, even those who
{\ADD{live}} far away
{\ADD{from here}}. The Lord our God
{\ADD{will give his Spirit}} to everyone whom he invites
{\ADD{to become his people}}!”

\VS{40}Peter spoke much more
{\ADD{and}} spoke strongly/forcefully to them. He pleaded with them, “{\ADD{Ask God}} to save you
{\ADD{so that he will not punish you when he punishes}} these evil people
{\ADD{who have rejected Jesus}}!”


\par }{\SH Many people became believers and joined the other believers.
\par }
{\SR Acts 2:41-42

\par }{\PP \VS{41}So the people who believed Peter’s message were baptized. There were about 3,000 [SYN]
{\ADD{who
}} joined the group
{\ADD{of believers
}} that day.

\VS{42}They continually obeyed what the apostles taught, and they very frequently met together
{\ADD{with the other believers}}. And they continually ate
{\ADD{together and celebrated the Lord’s Supper}}, and continually prayed
{\ADD{together}}.


\par }{\SH The apostles performed miracles, all the believers shared everything, and the Lord helped them.
\par }
{\SR Acts 2:43-47

\par }{\PP \VS{43}All the people [SYN]
{\ADD{who were in Jerusalem}} were greatly revering
{\ADD{God because}} the apostles were frequently doing many kinds of miraculous things.

\VS{44}All of those who believed
{\ADD{in Jesus}} were united
{\ADD{and regularly met}} together. They were also sharing everything that they had with one another.

\VS{45}{\ADD{From time to time some of}} them sold
{\ADD{some of}} their land and
{\ADD{some of the other}} things that they owned, and they would give
{\ADD{some of}} the money
{\ADD{from what they sold}} to others
{\ADD{among them}}, according to what they needed.

\VS{46}Every day they continued meeting together in the temple
{\ADD{area}}. And every day they gladly and generously shared their food [SYN]
{\ADD{with each other}}, as they ate together
{\ADD{and celebrated the Lord’s Supper}} in their houses.

\VS{47}{\ADD{As they did so}}, they were praising God, and all the
{\ADD{other}} people
{\ADD{in Jerusalem}} were
{\ADD{thinking}} favorably about them.
{\ADD{As those things were happening}}, every day the Lord
{\ADD{Jesus}} increased the number of people who were being saved $\{$whom he was saving$\}$
{\ADD{from the guilt of their sins}}.




\par }\Chap{3}{\SH Peter healed a lame man, so the people were amazed.
\par }
{\SR Acts 3:1-8

\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}{\ADD{One day}} Peter and John were going to the Temple
{\ADD{courtyard}}. It was three o’clock in the afternoon, which was the time when people prayed
{\ADD{there publicly}}.

\VS{2}There was a man there who had been lame from the time he was born. He
{\ADD{was sitting by}} the gate called Beautiful
{\ADD{Gate}}, at the entrance to the Temple
{\ADD{area}}. People put him there every day, so that he could ask those who were entering
{\ADD{or leaving}} the temple courtyard to give him some money.


\par }{\PP \VS{3}As Peter and John were about to enter
{\ADD{the Temple courtyard}}, the lame man saw them and asked them several times to give him some money. (OR, The lame man said to them several times, “Please give me some money!”)

\VS{4}As Peter and John looked directly at him, Peter said to him, “Look at us!”

\VS{5}So he looked directly at them, expecting to get some
{\ADD{money}} from them.

\VS{6}Then Peter said to him, “I do not have any money [MTY], but what I
{\ADD{can do}}, I will
{\ADD{do}} for you. Jesus Christ,
{\ADD{who was}} from Nazareth
{\ADD{town}}, has authorized [MTY] me
{\ADD{to heal you! So get up and}} walk!”

\VS{7}Then Peter grasped the man’s right hand and helped him to stand up. Immediately the man’s feet and ankles became strong.

\VS{8}He jumped up and began to walk! Then he entered the Temple
{\ADD{area}} with them, walking and leaping and praising God!


\par }{\SH The people were amazed.
\par }
{\SR Acts 3:9-10

\par }{\PP \VS{9}All the people
{\ADD{there}} saw that man walking and praising God.

\VS{10}They recognized that he was the man who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate in the Temple
{\ADD{courtyard}} and ask
{\ADD{people}} for money! So all the people there were greatly amazed at what had happened to him.

\VS{11}As the man clung to Peter and John, all the people were so surprised
{\ADD{that they did not know what to think}} So they ran to the two apostles at the place
{\ADD{in the Temple courtyard}} that is called $\{$that
{\ADD{people}} call$\}$ Solomon’s Porch.


\par }{\SH Peter explained that Jesus healed the man, and they should repent.
\par }
{\SR Acts 3:12-16

\par }{\PP \VS{12}When Peter saw that, he said to the crowd, “Fellow Israelites, ◄you should not be surprised about what has happened to this man!/why are you so surprised about what has happened to this man?► [RHQ] And you should not stare at us, either! You seem to [RHQ] think that the two of us enabled this man to walk because we
{\ADD{(exc)}} ourselves are powerful or because we please God very much!

\VS{13}{\ADD{So I will tell you what is really happening}}. Our ancestors, including Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, worshipped God. And now he has greatly honored Jesus, who always served him. Your
{\ADD{leaders}} brought Jesus
{\ADD{to the governor, Pilate}}, so that
{\ADD{his soldiers would kill him}}. And
{\ADD{God considers that}} in front of Pilate you
{\ADD{were the ones who rejected}} Jesus
{\ADD{as your king}}, after Pilate had decided that he should release Jesus.

\VS{14}{\ADD{Although Jesus}} always did what was right/just and good, you rejected him.
{\ADD{Pilate wanted to release him, but}} you urgently asked Pilate to release ◄a murderer/someone who had killed people►!

\VS{15}{\ADD{God considers that}} you killed
{\ADD{Jesus}}, the one who gives people
{\ADD{eternal}} life. But God has greatly honored him ◄by causing him to become alive again after he died/by raising him from the dead►. Many of us saw
{\ADD{him after that, and now}} we
{\ADD{(exc)}} are telling
{\ADD{you}} about it.

\VS{16}It is because
{\ADD{we two}} trusted in what Jesus [MTY, PRS]
{\ADD{could do, that he}} made this man, whom you see and know, strong again. Yes, it is because we
{\ADD{(exc)}} trusted in Jesus that he has completely healed this man for all of you to see.”


\par }{\SH Peter told the people to repent.
\par }
{\SR Acts 3:17-26

\par }{\PP \VS{17}“Now, my fellow-countrymen, I know that you and your leaders did that
{\ADD{to Jesus}} because you
{\ADD{and they}} did not know
{\ADD{that he was the Messiah}}.

\VS{18}However,
{\ADD{your putting him to death}} was what God had predicted that people would do.
{\ADD{Long ago}} he told all the prophets [MTY] to write
{\ADD{what people would do to the Messiah. They wrote}} that the Messiah, whom God
{\ADD{would send}}, would suffer
{\ADD{and die}}.

\VS{19}So, turn away from your sinful behavior and ask God
{\ADD{to help you}} do what pleases
{\ADD{him}}, in order that he may completely forgive you for your sins.

\VS{20}{\ADD{If you do that}}, there will be times
{\ADD{when you will know that}} the Lord
{\ADD{God is}} helping
{\ADD{you}}. And some day he will
{\ADD{again}} send back
{\ADD{to earth}} the Messiah, whom he appointed for you. That person is Jesus.

\VS{21}Jesus must stay in heaven until the time when God will cause all that he has created to become new. Long ago God promised
{\ADD{to do that, and}} he chose holy prophets to tell
{\ADD{that to people}}.

\VS{22}For
{\ADD{example, the prophet}} Moses said
{\ADD{this about the Messiah}}: ‘The Lord ◄your God/the God whom you
{\ADD{worship}}► will cause someone to become a prophet to tell you
{\ADD{God’s message. God will send him}} as
{\ADD{he sent}} me,
{\ADD{and he will be}} from among your own people. You must listen to everything that this prophet tells you
{\ADD{and obey him}} [SYN].

\VS{23}{\ADD{Those who}} do not listen to
{\ADD{that prophet and obey}} him will no longer belong to God’s people, and
{\ADD{God}} will get rid of them’.”

\VS{24}{\ADD{Peter continued}}, “All the prophets have told
{\ADD{about what would happen during}} the time [MTY]
{\ADD{in which we(inc) are living. Those prophets include}} Samuel
{\ADD{and all the others who}} later also spoke
{\ADD{about these events}} before they happened.

\VS{25}You
{\ADD{as well as we(exc)}} are the people
{\ADD{to whom God sent the Messiah, as}} the prophets said [MTY]
{\ADD{that he would}}. And when God strongly promised
{\ADD{to bless}} our ancestors, he also surely promised to bless you. He said to Abraham
{\ADD{concerning the Messiah}}, ‘{\ADD{I}} will bless all people on the earth as a result of
{\ADD{what}} your descendant
{\ADD{will do}}.’ ”

\VS{26}{\ADD{Peter concluded}}, “{\ADD{So}} when God sent
{\ADD{to the earth}} ◄Jesus, the one who always obeys him/his servant Jesus►, he sent him first to you
{\ADD{Israelites}} to bless you.
{\ADD{God will}} enable you to stop doing what is wicked
{\ADD{and to start doing what pleases him}}.”




\par }\Chap{4}{\SH Jewish leaders arrested Peter and John, but many people became believers.
\par }
{\SR Acts 4:1-4

\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}{\ADD{Meanwhile, in the temple courtyard, there were some}} priests, the officer who was in charge of the temple police, and
{\ADD{also some}} [SYN] Sadducee
{\ADD{sect members}}. These men came to Peter and John while the two of them were speaking to the people.

\VS{2}These men were very angry, because the
{\ADD{two}} apostles were teaching the people
{\ADD{about Jesus}}. What they were telling the people was that because ◄{\ADD{God caused Jesus to become alive again/God raised}} Jesus
{\ADD{from the dead}}►,
{\ADD{God}} would cause other people who had died to become alive again.

\VS{3}So those officials seized Peter and John. Then they put them in jail.
{\ADD{They had to wait}} until the next day
{\ADD{to question Peter and John}}, because it was already evening
{\ADD{and it was contrary to their Jewish law to question people at night}}.

\VS{4}However, many people who had heard the message
{\ADD{from Peter}} believed
{\ADD{in Jesus}}. (OR, But many people had
{\ADD{already}} believed
{\ADD{in Jesus, because}} they had heard the message
{\ADD{from Peter}}.) So the number of men
{\ADD{who believed in Jesus}} increased to about five 5,000.


\par }{\SH Jewish leaders questioned Peter and John about healing the lame man.
\par }
{\SR Acts 4:5-7

\par }{\PP \VS{5}The next day
{\ADD{the supreme priest summoned}} the
{\ADD{other}} chief priests, the teachers of the
{\ADD{Jewish}} laws, and the other members
{\ADD{of the Jewish Council, and they}} gathered together
{\ADD{in one place}} in Jerusalem.

\VS{6}Annas,
{\ADD{the former}} supreme priest, Caiaphas
{\ADD{who was the new supreme priest}},
{\ADD{two other former supreme priests whose names were}} John and Alexander, and other men who were related to the supreme priest
{\ADD{were there}}.

\VS{7}They
{\ADD{commanded guards to}} bring Peter and John into the courtroom [MTY] and have them stand in front of them.
{\ADD{Then one of}} the leaders questioned
{\ADD{the two of}} them, saying, “Who
{\ADD{do you two claim}} gave you the power
{\ADD{to heal this man}}? And who authorized [MTY] you to do this [DOU]?”


\par }{\SH Peter told them that Jesus healed the man and only Jesus could save people.
\par }
{\SR Acts 4:8-12

\par }{\PP \VS{8}So as the Holy Spirit completely controlled Peter, he said to them, “You
{\ADD{fellow Israelites}} who rule us and
{\ADD{all of you other}} elders,
{\ADD{listen}}!

\VS{9}Today you are questioning us concerning our doing something good for a man who was crippled, and you asked us how he was healed.

\VS{10}So
{\ADD{we(exc) want}} you and all
{\ADD{of our other}} fellow Israelites to know this: It is because Jesus the Messiah [MTY] from Nazareth healed this man that he is able to stand here.
{\ADD{God considers that}} it was you who nailed Jesus to a cross, but God caused him to become alive again.

\VS{11}{\ADD{In the Psalms this was written about the Messiah:}}

\par }{\Q He is
{\ADD{like}} [MET] the stone that was rejected by the builders $\{$that the builders rejected$\}$.

\par }{\Q But that stone became the most important stone in the building
{\ADD{that they were building}}.

\par }{\PP {\ADD{Jesus is that stone, and}} you
{\ADD{are those builders who threw away the stone that was the most important one}}.

\VS{12}So he alone can save us [MTY].
{\ADD{God}} has sent only one person [MTY] into the world who can save us
{\ADD{from the guilt of our sins, and that person is Jesus}}!”


\par }{\SH The Jewish leaders realized that Peter and John had been associating with Jesus.
\par }
{\SR Acts 4:13-14

\par }{\PP \VS{13}The
{\ADD{Jewish leaders}} realized that Peter and John ◄were not afraid
{\ADD{of them}}/spoke boldly►. They also learned that the two men were ordinary people who had not studied in schools. So the leaders were amazed, and they realized that these men had associated with Jesus.

\VS{14}They also saw the man who had been healed standing there with
{\ADD{the two of}} them, so they were not able to say anything
{\ADD{to oppose Peter and John}}.


\par }{\SH The Jewish leaders commanded the two apostles to stop teaching people about Jesus.
\par }
{\SR Acts 4:15-18

\par }{\PP \VS{15}So the
{\ADD{Jewish leaders}} commanded
{\ADD{guards}} to take Peter, John, and the man outside of the room
{\ADD{where those leaders were meeting. After they did so}}, the leaders talked with each other
{\ADD{about Peter and John}}.

\VS{16}{\ADD{Being frustrated, one after another}}, they said, “◄There is really nothing that we can do to
{\ADD{punish}} these
{\ADD{two}} men!/How can we
{\ADD{(inc)}} do anything to
{\ADD{punish}} these
{\ADD{two}} men?► [RHQ] Almost everyone [HYP] who is living in Jerusalem knows that they have done an amazing miracle, so we cannot tell people that it did not happen!

\VS{17}However,
{\ADD{we}} must not allow other people to hear about
{\ADD{this miracle}}. So we must tell these men that
{\ADD{we will punish them if they}} continue to tell other people about this [MTY] man
{\ADD{who they say gave them the power to do it}}.”

\VS{18}So the Jewish leaders
{\ADD{commanded guards}} to bring the two apostles
{\ADD{into that room again. After they did so}}, they
{\ADD{commanded}} them both that they should never speak about Jesus, and they should not teach
{\ADD{anyone about him}} [MTY]
{\ADD{again}}.


\par }{\SH Peter and John said that they needed to continue speaking about Jesus.
\par }
{\SR Acts 4:19-20

\par }{\PP \VS{19}But Peter and John replied, “Would God think that it is right
{\ADD{for us two}} to obey you and not
{\ADD{to obey}} him?
{\ADD{We(exc) will let}} you decide
{\ADD{which of those you think is proper}}.

\VS{20}{\ADD{But as for us, we cannot obey you}}. We will not stop telling people about the things that we
{\ADD{(exc)}} have seen
{\ADD{Jesus do}} and what we have heard
{\ADD{him teach}}.”


\par }{\SH The Jewish leaders threatened to punish Peter and John and then released them.
\par }
{\SR Acts 4:21-22

\par }{\PP \VS{21-22}Then the
{\ADD{Jewish leaders}} again told
{\ADD{Peter and John}} not to disobey them. But all the people
{\ADD{there}} were praising God about what had happened
{\ADD{to the lame man. The leaders knew that only God could have enabled Peter and John}} to miraculously heal the man, because the man was more than 40 years old
{\ADD{and he was lame when his mother bore him. They also knew that the people would become angry if they punished the two apostles}}. So, because they could not decide how to punish Peter and John,
{\ADD{they finally}} let them go.


\par }{\SH The believers talked to God about those who opposed him and them.
\par }
{\SR Acts 4:23-28

\par }{\PP \VS{23}After Peter and John had been released, they went to the other believers and reported all that the chief priests and
{\ADD{other Jewish}} elders had said to them.

\VS{24}When they heard that, they
{\ADD{all}} agreed as they prayed to God, and
{\ADD{one of}} them prayed, “O Lord! You
{\ADD{(sg)}} made the sky, the earth and the oceans, and everything in them.

\VS{25}The Holy Spirit caused our ancestor,
{\ADD{King
}} David [MTY], who served you, to write these words:

\par }{\PI {\ADD{It is ridiculous
}} [RHQ] that the non-Jews became angry and the Israelite people planned uselessly
{\ADD{to oppose God}}.


\par }{\PI \VS{26}The kings of the world prepared to fight
{\ADD{God’s Ruler}}, and the
{\ADD{other}} rulers assembled together
{\ADD{with them}} to oppose the Lord
{\ADD{God}} and the one whom he had appointed
{\ADD{to be the Messiah}}.


\par }{\PP \VS{27}{\ADD{Lord, we know that what you(sg) said long ago was true}}, because
{\ADD{King}} Herod and the
{\ADD{governor}}, Pontius Pilate, and many other people, both non-Jews and Israelites, assembled together
{\ADD{here}} in this city.
{\ADD{They}} planned
{\ADD{to kill}} Jesus, who devotedly served you
{\ADD{and}} whom you appointed [MTY]
{\ADD{to be the Messiah}}.

\VS{28}{\ADD{Because}} you
{\ADD{(sg)}} are all-powerful, those people did
{\ADD{only}} what you [SYN] allowed
{\ADD{them to do}}. It was what you decided long ago would happen.”


\par }{\SH The believers asked God to help them speak boldly to people about Jesus.
\par }
{\SR Acts 4:29-30

\par }{\PP \VS{29}“So now, Lord, listen to what they are saying about punishing us! Help us who serve you
{\ADD{(sg)}} to very boldly speak messages from you
{\ADD{(sg) about Jesus}}

\VS{30}{\ADD{Also}}, by your power [MTY] miraculously heal
{\ADD{sick people}} and do other amazing miracles [SYN] that show people your power! Ask Jesus, who always serves you,
{\ADD{to give us the authority}} [MTY]
{\ADD{to do such miracles}}!”


\par }{\SH God shook the place where they were, and his Spirit enabled them to speak his words boldly.
\par }
{\SR Acts 4:31

\par }{\PP \VS{31}When the believers had finished praying, the place where they were meeting shook. All of them were ◄completely controlled/empowered► by the Holy Spirit $\{$the Holy Spirit ◄completely controlled/empowered► all of them$\}$, with the result that they began to speak boldly the words that God
{\ADD{told them to speak}}.


\par }{\SH The believers shared everything, and the apostles told others about Jesus.
\par }
{\SR Acts 4:32-35

\par }{\PP \VS{32}The group of people who had believed
{\ADD{in Jesus}} were completely agreed about what they thought and what they wanted/desired. Not one of them claimed that he
{\ADD{alone}} owned anything. Instead, they shared with one another everything that they had.

\VS{33}The apostles continued to tell others, very powerfully,
{\ADD{that God}} had ◄caused the Lord Jesus to become alive again/raised the Lord Jesus from the dead►.
{\ADD{People knew that God}} was graciously helping all the believers.

\VS{34}{\ADD{Some of}} the believers who owned land or houses would occasionally sell
{\ADD{some of}} their property. Then they would bring
{\ADD{the money for what they sold}}

\VS{35}and they would present it to the apostles [MTY]. Then
{\ADD{the apostles}} would give money to any
{\ADD{believer}} who needed
{\ADD{it}}. So no one among the believers was lacking anything.


\par }{\SH Joseph Barnabas sold a field and brought the money to the apostles.
\par }
{\SR Acts 4:36-37

\par }{\PP \VS{36}{\ADD{For example, there was}} Joseph.
{\ADD{He was}} a descendant of Levi
{\ADD{and he was born}} on Cyprus
{\ADD{Island}}. The apostles called him Barnabas;
{\ADD{in the Jewish language}} that name means a person who [IDM] always encourages
{\ADD{others}}.

\VS{37}He sold one of his fields, and brought the money to the apostles
{\ADD{for them to distribute to other believers}}.




\par }\Chap{5}{\SH Ananias pretended to give the apostles all the money from selling a field.
\par }
{\SR Acts 5:1-2

\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}But there was one of
{\ADD{the believers}} whose name was Ananias, and whose wife’s name was Sapphira. He
{\ADD{also}} sold some land.

\VS{2}He kept for himself some of the money
{\ADD{he had received for the land}}, and his wife knew that he had done that. Then he brought the rest of the money and presented it to the apostles [MTY].


\par }{\SH People were terrified when they saw or heard that Ananias had died.
\par }
{\SR Acts 5:3-6

\par }{\PP \VS{3}Then Peter said, “Ananias, you
{\ADD{(sg)}} let Satan completely control you [MTY] so that you
{\ADD{(sg) tried to}} deceive the Holy Spirit
{\ADD{and us(exc)}}. ◄That was
{\ADD{terrible!/Why did you do such a terrible thing}}?► [RHQ]
{\ADD{You}} have kept for yourself some of the money you
{\ADD{(sg)}} received for
{\ADD{selling}} the land,
{\ADD{pretending that you(sg) were giving us all of it}}.

\VS{4}Before you
{\ADD{(sg)}} sold that land, you truly owned [RHQ] it. And after you sold it, you could [RHQ] certainly still have used the money any way you wanted
{\ADD{to}}. So why did you
{\ADD{(sg) ever}} think [RHQ] about doing this
{\ADD{wicked}} thing? You were not
{\ADD{merely trying to}} deceive us! No,
{\ADD{you tried to deceive}} God
{\ADD{himself!}}!”

\VS{5}When Ananias heard that,
{\ADD{immediately}} he fell down dead. So all
{\ADD{who were there}} who heard
{\ADD{about Ananias’ death}} became terrified [PRS].

\VS{6}Some young men came in, wrapped his
{\ADD{body in a sheet}}, and carried it out
{\ADD{and}} buried it.


\par }{\SH Sapphira also died because she lied, and some men buried her beside her husband.
\par }
{\SR Acts 5:7-11

\par }{\PP \VS{7}About three hours later, his wife came in,
{\ADD{but}} she did not know what had happened.

\VS{8}{\ADD{As}} Peter
{\ADD{showed her the money}} that
{\ADD{Ananias had brought}}, he asked her, “Tell me, is this the amount
{\ADD{of money you two received for}} the land you sold?” She said, “Yes, that’s
{\ADD{what we(exc) received}}.”

\VS{9}So Peter said to her, “{\ADD{You both did a terrible thing!}} You two agreed [RHQ] to try to determine if you could do that without the Spirit of the Lord
{\ADD{God}} revealing
{\ADD{to anyone that you two tried to deceive them!}} Listen!
{\ADD{Do you(sg) hear the}} footsteps [SYN] of the men who buried your husband? They are right outside this door, and they will carry your
{\ADD{corpse}} out
{\ADD{to bury it, too}}!”

\VS{10}Immediately Sapphira fell down dead at Peter’s feet. Then the young men came in. When they saw that she was dead, they carried her
{\ADD{body}} out and buried it beside her husband’s
{\ADD{body}}.


\par }{\PP \VS{11}So all the believers
{\ADD{in Jerusalem}} became greatly frightened [PRS]
{\ADD{because of what God had done to Ananias and Sapphira. And}} all
{\ADD{the others}} who heard
{\ADD{people tell about}} those things also
{\ADD{became greatly frightened}}.


\par }{\SH The apostles healed many people, and many people believed in Jesus.
\par }
{\SR Acts 5:12-16

\par }{\PP \VS{12}{\ADD{God was enabling}} the apostles to do many amazing miracles among the people. All the believers were meeting together regularly
{\ADD{in the temple courtyard}} at
{\ADD{the place called}} Solomon’s Porch.

\VS{13}All of the other people
{\ADD{who had not yet believed in Jesus}} were afraid to associate with the believers,
{\ADD{because they knew that if they did anything evil, God would punish them, as well as revealing it to the believers}}. However, those people continued to greatly respect the believers.

\VS{14}Many more men and women started believing in the Lord
{\ADD{Jesus}}, and they joined the
{\ADD{group of}} believers.

\VS{15}{\ADD{The apostles were doing amazing miracles}}, so
{\ADD{people}} were bringing those who were sick into the streets, and laying them on stretchers and mats, in order that
{\ADD{when}} Peter came by
{\ADD{he would touch them, or}} at least his shadow might fall upon some of them
{\ADD{and heal them}}.

\VS{16}Crowds of people were also coming
{\ADD{to the apostles}} from the towns near Jerusalem. They were bringing their sick
{\ADD{relatives/friends}} and those who were being tormented/troubled by evil spirits $\{$whom evil spirits were tormenting/troubling$\}$, and
{\ADD{God}} healed all of them.


\par }{\SH Jewish leaders jailed the apostles, but an angel freed them to teach people.
\par }
{\SR Acts 5:17-21a

\par }{\PP \VS{17}Then the high priest and all who were with him, who were members of the
{\ADD{local}} Sadducee
{\ADD{sect in Jerusalem}}, became very jealous
{\ADD{of the apostles, because many people were accepting the apostles’ message}}.

\VS{18}So they commanded the Temple guards to seize the apostles and put them in the public jail.

\VS{19}{\ADD{The guards did that}}, but during the night an angel from the Lord
{\ADD{God}} opened the jail doors and brought the apostles outside!
{\ADD{The guards were not aware of what the angel had done}}.

\VS{20}Then the angel said
{\ADD{to the apostles}}, “Go to the Temple
{\ADD{courtyard}}, stand there, and tell the people all about
{\ADD{how God can give them eternal}} life!”

\VS{21}So having heard this, about dawn they entered the Temple
{\ADD{courtyard}} and began to teach the people again
{\ADD{about Jesus}}.

\par }{\SH The Jewish leaders were perplexed because the apostles were not in jail.
\par }
{\SR Acts 5:21b-24

\par }{\PP Meanwhile, the high priest and those who were with him summoned the other Jewish Council members. Altogether they made up the entire Council of Israel.
{\ADD{After they all gathered together}}, they sent
{\ADD{guards}} to the jail to bring in the apostles.

\VS{22}But when the guards arrived at the jail, they discovered that the apostles were not there. So they returned to the Council, and
{\ADD{one of}} them reported,

\VS{23}“We
{\ADD{(exc)}} saw that the jail
{\ADD{doors}} were very securely locked, and the guards were standing at the doors. But when we opened
{\ADD{the doors and went in to get those men}}, none
{\ADD{of them was}} inside
{\ADD{the jail}}!”

\VS{24}When the captain of the temple guards and the chief priests heard that, they became greatly perplexed,
{\ADD{wondering}} what might result from all this.


\par }{\SH After finding them, the leaders brought the apostles back to question them.
\par }
{\SR Acts 5:25-26

\par }{\PP \VS{25}Then someone came
{\ADD{from the Temple courtyard}} and
{\ADD{excitedly}} reported to them, “Listen
{\ADD{to this! Right now}} the men whom you put in jail are standing in the Temple
{\ADD{courtyard}} and they are teaching the people
{\ADD{about Jesus}}!”

\VS{26}So the captain
{\ADD{of the Temple guards}} went
{\ADD{to the Temple courtyard}} with the officers, and they brought the apostles
{\ADD{back to the Council room. But they}} did not treat them roughly, because they were afraid that the people would
{\ADD{kill them by}} throwing stones at them
{\ADD{if they hurt the apostles}}.


\par }{\SH Peter and the other apostles said that they must obey God.
\par }
{\SR Acts 5:27-33

\par }{\PP \VS{27}After
{\ADD{the captain and his officers}} had brought
{\ADD{the apostles to the Council room}}, they commanded them to stand in front of the Council members, and the high priest questioned them.

\VS{28}He said to them
{\ADD{accusingly}}, “We
{\ADD{(exc)}} strongly commanded you not to teach people about that man [MTY]
{\ADD{Jesus}} But
{\ADD{you have disobeyed us, and}} you have taught people all over Jerusalem
{\ADD{about him}}! Furthermore, you are trying to make it seem that we
{\ADD{(exc)}} are the ones who are guilty [MTY] for that man’s death!”

\VS{29}But Peter,
{\ADD{speaking for himself}} and the other apostles, replied, “We
{\ADD{(exc)}} have to obey
{\ADD{what}} God
{\ADD{commands us to do}}, not what
{\ADD{you}} people
{\ADD{tell us to do}}!

\VS{30}God considers that you are the ones who killed Jesus by nailing him to a cross! But God, whom our ancestors
{\ADD{worshipped}}, ◄caused Jesus to become alive again after he died/raised Jesus from the dead►.

\VS{31}God has greatly honored Jesus.
{\ADD{He has taken him up to heaven! He has authorized him}} to be the one who will save us and to rule
{\ADD{over our lives! God did this}} so that he might enable
{\ADD{us}} Israelites [MTY] to turn away from
{\ADD{our}} sinful behavior and
{\ADD{that he might}} forgive
{\ADD{us for our sins}}.

\VS{32}We
{\ADD{(exc)}} tell people about these things
{\ADD{that we know happened to Jesus}}, and the Holy Spirit, whom God has sent to
{\ADD{us}} who obey him, is also confirming
{\ADD{that these things are true}}.”

\VS{33}When the Council members heard those words, they became very angry
{\ADD{with the apostles}}, and they wanted to kill them.


\par }{\SH After beating the apostles, they followed Gamaliel’s advice and released them.
\par }
{\SR Acts 5:34-40

\par }{\PP \VS{34}But
{\ADD{there was a Council member}} named Gamaliel. He was a Pharisee, and one who taught people the
{\ADD{Jewish}} laws, and all the
{\ADD{Jewish}} people respected him. He stood up in the Council and told
{\ADD{guards}} to take the apostles out
{\ADD{of the room}} for a short time.

\VS{35}{\ADD{After the guards had taken the apostles out}}, he said to the other Council members, “Fellow Israelites, you need to think carefully about what you are about to do to these men,
{\ADD{and I will tell you why}}.

\VS{36}Some years ago
{\ADD{a man named}} Theudas rebelled
{\ADD{against the Roman government}}. He told people that he was an important person, and about 400 men joined
{\ADD{him. But he was killed}} $\{${\ADD{soldiers}} killed him$\}$ and all those who had been accompanying him were scattered.
{\ADD{So they}} were not able to do anything
{\ADD{that they had planned}}.

\VS{37}After that, during the time when they were ◄writing down names of the people/taking the census►
{\ADD{in order to tax people, a man named}} Judas from Galilee
{\ADD{province}} rebelled
{\ADD{against the Roman government}}. He persuaded some people to accompany him. But
{\ADD{soldiers}} killed him, too, and all those who had accompanied him went off in different directions.

\VS{38}So now I say
{\ADD{this}} to you: Do not harm these men! Release them! I say this because if
{\ADD{this is just something}} that humans have planned, they will not be able to do it. They will fail,
{\ADD{like Theudas and Judas did}}

\VS{39}But, if God
{\ADD{has commanded them to do it}}, you will not be able to prevent them
{\ADD{from doing it, because}} you will find out that you are opposing God!” The other members of the Council accepted what Gamaliel said.

\VS{40}They told the
{\ADD{temple guards to bring the apostles and flog them. So the guards}} brought them
{\ADD{into the Council room}} and flogged them. Then the Council members commanded them not to speak to people about [MTY] Jesus, and they released the apostles.


\par }{\SH The apostles rejoiced and continued to tell others about Jesus.
\par }
{\SR Acts 5:41-42

\par }{\PP \VS{41}So the apostles left the Council. They were rejoicing, because
{\ADD{they knew God}} had honored them
{\ADD{by letting people}} disgrace them because they were followers [MTY] of Jesus.

\VS{42}And every day
{\ADD{the apostles went to}} the temple
{\ADD{area}} and to various
{\ADD{people’s}} houses,
{\ADD{and}} they continued [LIT] teaching
{\ADD{people}} and telling
{\ADD{them}} that Jesus is the Messiah.




\par }\Chap{6}{\SH The believers neglected the Greek-speaking widows.
\par }
{\SR Acts 6:1

\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}During that time, many more people were becoming believers.
{\ADD{Some of them were from other countries and spoke only the Greek language, but most of them had always lived in Israel and spoke the Hebrew language}}. Those who spoke Greek began to complain about those who spoke Hebrew. They were saying. “When
{\ADD{you Hebrew-speaking believers}} distribute
{\ADD{food or money}} to widows every day, you are not giving fair amounts to the widows who speak Greek!”


\par }{\SH The apostles told the other believers to choose men to care for those widows.
\par }
{\SR Acts 6:2-4

\par }{\PP \VS{2}So,
{\ADD{after the
}} twelve
{\ADD{apostles had heard what they were complaining about}}, they summoned all the
{\ADD{other
}} believers
{\ADD{in Jerusalem to meet
}} together. Then the apostles said
{\ADD{to those other believers}}, “We
{\ADD{(exc)}} would not be doing right if we stopped
{\ADD{preaching and teaching
}} God’s message
{\ADD{about Jesus
}} in order to distribute food [MTY]
{\ADD{and money to the widows}}!

\VS{3}So, fellow believers, carefully choose seven men from among you, men whom
{\ADD{you}} know that the Spirit
{\ADD{of God}} controls completely and who are very wise. Then we
{\ADD{(exc)}} will appoint them to do this work,

\VS{4}and we
{\ADD{(exc)}} will devote our time to pray and to preach and teach the message
{\ADD{about Jesus}}.”


\par }{\SH The apostles appointed seven men to care for the widows’ needs.
\par }
{\SR Acts 6:5-6

\par }{\PP \VS{5}What the apostles recommended pleased all of the
{\ADD{other}} believers. So they group chose Stephen. He was a man who strongly believed
{\ADD{in God}} and whom the Holy Spirit controlled completely.
{\ADD{They also chose}} Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas who was from Antioch
{\ADD{city}}. Nicolas had accepted the Jewish religion
{\ADD{before he had believed in Jesus}}.

\VS{6}They brought these
{\ADD{seven}} men to the apostles. Then after the apostles prayed
{\ADD{for those men}}, they placed their hands on
{\ADD{the heads of each one of}} them
{\ADD{to appoint them to do that work}}.


\par }{\SH The number of people who were becoming believers increased greatly.
\par }
{\SR Acts 6:7

\par }{\PP \VS{7}So
{\ADD{the believers}} continued to tell many people the message from God. ◄The number of people in Jerusalem who believed
{\ADD{in Jesus}} was increasing greatly./More and more people in Jerusalem were believing in Jesus.►
{\ADD{Among them}} were many
{\ADD{Jewish}} priests who were believing the message
{\ADD{about Jesus}}.


\par }{\SH People opposed Stephen, but could not refute his arguments.
\par }
{\SR Acts 6:8-10

\par }{\PP \VS{8}God was enabling Stephen to do many things by God’s power. He was doing many amazing miracles among the
{\ADD{Jewish}} people.

\VS{9}However, some people opposed Stephen. They were Jews from a group
{\ADD{that regularly met together in a Jewish meeting place that was}} $\{${\ADD{that people}}$\}$ called the Freedmen’s Meeting Place.
{\ADD{Those people were from}} Cyrene and Alexandria
{\ADD{cities}} and
{\ADD{also}} from Cilicia and Asia
{\ADD{provinces}}. They all began to argue with Stephen.

\VS{10}But they were not able ◄to refute
{\ADD{what he said/to prove that what he said was wrong}}►,
{\ADD{because God’s}} Spirit enabled him to speak very wisely.


\par }{\SH People persuaded some men to falsely accuse Stephen.
\par }
{\SR Acts 6:11-14

\par }{\PP \VS{11}Then that group secretly persuaded
{\ADD{some
}} men to
{\ADD{falsely accuse Stephen. saying}}, “We
{\ADD{(exc)}} heard him say bad things about Moses and God.”

\VS{12}So,
{\ADD{by saying that}}, they made the
{\ADD{other Jewish}} people angry
{\ADD{at Stephen, including}} the elders and the teachers of the
{\ADD{Jewish}} laws. Then
{\ADD{they all}} seized Stephen and took him to the Jewish Council.

\VS{13}They
{\ADD{also}} brought in some other men who accused Stephen falsely
{\ADD{about several things}}. They said, “This fellow continually says bad things about this holy Temple and about the laws
{\ADD{that Moses received from God}}.

\VS{14}Specifically, we
{\ADD{(exc)}} have heard him say that this Jesus from Nazareth
{\ADD{town}} will destroy this Temple and will tell us to obey different customs than Moses
{\ADD{taught our ancestors}}.”


\par }{\SH The people saw Stephen’s face shining like the face of an angel.
\par }
{\SR Acts 6:15

\par }{\PP \VS{15}When all
{\ADD{the people}} who were sitting in the Council
{\ADD{room heard that, and as they}} all stared at Stephen, they saw that his face was
{\ADD{shining}} [SIM] like the face of an angel.




\par }\Chap{7}{\SH Stephen started to answer the high priest’s accusations by talking about Abraham.
\par }
{\SR Acts 7:1-4

\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are the things that
{\ADD{these people are saying about you(sg)}} true?”

\VS{2}Stephen replied, “Fellow Jews and respected leaders,
{\ADD{please}} listen to me! The glorious God
{\ADD{whom we(inc) worship}} appeared to our ancestor Abraham while he was still
{\ADD{living}} in Mesopotamia
{\ADD{region}}, before he moved to Haran
{\ADD{town}}.

\VS{3}God said to him, ‘Leave this land where you
{\ADD{(sg)}} and your relatives
{\ADD{are living}}, and go into the land to which I will lead you.’

\VS{4}So Abraham left that land,
{\ADD{which was also called}} Chaldea, and he arrived in Haran and lived there. After his father died, God told him to move to this land in which you
{\ADD{and I}} are now living.”


\par }{\SH God promised to give the land to Abraham and his descendants.
\par }
{\SR Acts 7:5

\par }{\PP \VS{5}“{\ADD{At that time}} God did not give Abraham any
{\ADD{land here}}, not even a small plot of
{\ADD{this}} land that would belong to him. God promised that he would
{\ADD{later}} give this land to him and his descendants, and that it would
{\ADD{always}} belong
{\ADD{to them. However}}, at that time Abraham did not have any children
{\ADD{who would}} ◄{\ADD{inherit it/receive it after he died}}►.”


\par }{\SH God told Abraham that later on he would deliver his descendants from Egypt.
\par }
{\SR Acts 7:6-7

\par }{\PP \VS{6}“{\ADD{Later}} God told Abraham, ‘Your descendants will go and live in a foreign country. They
{\ADD{will live there}} for 400 years, and
{\ADD{during that time their leaders}} will mistreat your descendants and force them to work as slaves.’

\VS{7}But God
{\ADD{also}} said, ‘I will punish the people who make them work as slaves. Then, after that, your descendants will leave
{\ADD{that land}} and they will
{\ADD{come and}} worship me in this land.’ ”


\par }{\SH God commanded the ceremony of circumcision for Abraham and his descendants.
\par }
{\SR Acts 7:8

\par }{\PP \VS{8}“Then God commanded Abraham that
{\ADD{every male in his household and all of his male descendants}} should be circumcised
{\ADD{to show that they all belonged to God}} and that they would obey what he had told Abraham to do. Later Abraham’s son, Isaac, was born, and when Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him.
{\ADD{Later}} Isaac’s son, Jacob, was born, and Isaac
{\ADD{similarly circumcised}} him. And Jacob
{\ADD{similarly circumcised}} his twelve sons. They are the twelve men
{\ADD{from whom we(inc) Jews have all descended}}.”


\par }{\SH God helped Joseph, so Pharaoh appointed him to govern Egypt.
\par }
{\SR Acts 7:9-10

\par }{\PP \VS{9}“{\ADD{You know that}} Jacob’s
{\ADD{older}} sons became jealous
{\ADD{because their father favored their younger brother}} Joseph. So they sold him
{\ADD{to merchants/traders who took him}} [MTY] to Egypt. There he became a slave
{\ADD{of an official who lived there}}. But God
{\ADD{helped}} Joseph.

\VS{10}He protected him whenever people caused him to suffer. He enabled Joseph to be wise; and he caused Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, to think well of Joseph. So Pharaoh appointed him to rule
{\ADD{over}} Egypt and to look after all of Pharaoh’s property [MTY].”


\par }{\SH There was a famine in Canaan, so Jacob’s family moved to Egypt.
\par }
{\SR Acts 7:11-15a

\par }{\PP \VS{11}“{\ADD{While Joseph was doing that work}}, there was a time ◄when there was very little food/of famine► throughout Egypt and also throughout Canaan. People did not have enough food to eat. People were suffering.
{\ADD{At that time}} Jacob and his sons
{\ADD{in Canaan}} also could not find
{\ADD{enough}} food.

\VS{12}When Jacob heard
{\ADD{people report that}} there was grain/food
{\ADD{that people could buy}} in Egypt, he sent Joseph’s older brothers
{\ADD{to go there to buy grain. They went and bought grain from Joseph, but they did not recognize him. Then they returned home}}.

\VS{13}When Joseph’s brothers went to Egypt the second time,
{\ADD{they again bought grain from Joseph}}. But this time
{\ADD{he}} told them who he was.
{\ADD{And}} people told Pharaoh that Joseph’s people were Hebrews
{\ADD{and that those men who had come from Canaan were his brothers}}.

\VS{14}Then after Joseph sent
{\ADD{his brothers back home, they}} told their father Jacob
{\ADD{that Joseph wanted}} him and his entire family to come
{\ADD{to Egypt. At that time}} ◄{\ADD{Jacob’s family consisted of}} 75 people/there were 75 people in Jacob’s family► [SYN].

\VS{15}{\ADD{So when}} Jacob
{\ADD{heard that, he and all his family}} went to
{\ADD{live in}} Egypt.”

\par }{\SH When Jacob and his sons died, people buried them in Canaan.
\par }
{\SR Acts 7:15b-16

\par }{\PP “{\ADD{Later on}}, Jacob died
{\ADD{there}}, and our
{\ADD{other}} ancestors,
{\ADD{his sons, also died there}}.

\VS{16}{\ADD{But}} the bodies
{\ADD{of Jacob and Joseph}} were brought $\{${\ADD{they}} brought the bodies
{\ADD{of Jacob and Joseph}}$\}$
{\ADD{back to our land}}, and
{\ADD{Jacob’s body}} was buried $\{$they buried
{\ADD{Jacob’s body}}$\}$
{\ADD{in the tomb that Abraham had bought, and they buried Joseph’s body}} in Shechem in the ground that
{\ADD{Jacob}} had bought from Hamor’s sons.”


\par }{\SH An Egyptian king who did not know about Joseph began to oppress the Israelites.
\par }
{\SR Acts 7:17-19

\par }{\PP \VS{17}“Our ancestors had become very numerous when it was almost time for
{\ADD{God to rescue them}} from Egypt,
{\ADD{as}} he had promised Abraham that he would do.

\VS{18}Another king had begun to rule in Egypt. He did not know that Joseph,
{\ADD{long before that time, had greatly helped the people of Egypt}} [MTY].

\VS{19}That king cruelly tried to get rid of our ancestors. He oppressed them and caused them to suffer greatly. He
{\ADD{even commanded}} them to leave their baby
{\ADD{boys}} outside
{\ADD{their homes}} so that they would die.”


\par }{\SH Moses, who grew up as an Egyptian, spoke and acted powerfully.
\par }
{\SR Acts 7:20-22

\par }{\PP \VS{20}“During that time Moses was born, and he was a very beautiful [LIT]
{\ADD{child}}. So his parents
{\ADD{secretly}} cared for him in their house for three months.

\VS{21}Then they had to put him outside
{\ADD{the house, but}} Pharaoh’s daughter
{\ADD{found him and}} adopted him and cared for him as
{\ADD{though he were}} her own son.

\VS{22}Moses was taught $\{${\ADD{The Egyptian teachers}} taught Moses$\}$ many kinds of wise things [HYP] that the people in Egypt knew, and
{\ADD{when he grew up}}, he spoke powerfully and did things powerfully.”


\par }{\SH Moses killed an Egyptian, so he had to flee to Midian.
\par }
{\SR Acts 7:23-29

\par }{\PP \VS{23}“{\ADD{One day}} when Moses was about 40 years old, he decided that he would
{\ADD{go and}} see his fellow Israelis.
{\ADD{So he went to the place where they worked}}.

\VS{24}He saw an Egyptian beating one of the Israelis. So he went over to help [MTY] the Israeli man who was being hurt/beat $\{$whom
{\ADD{the Egyptian}} was hurting/beating$\}$, and he ◄got revenge on/paid back► the Israeli man by killing the Egyptian
{\ADD{who was hurting/beating him}}.

\VS{25}Moses was thinking that his fellow Israelis would understand that God had sent him to free them
{\ADD{from being slaves}}. But they did not understand that.

\VS{26}The next day, Moses saw two Israeli men fighting
{\ADD{each other}}. He tried to make them stop fighting by saying to them, ‘Men, you two are fellow
{\ADD{Israelis! So}} ◄stop hurting each other!/why are you hurting each other?► [RHQ]’

\VS{27}But the man who was injuring the other man pushed Moses away and said to him, ‘◄No one appointed you
{\ADD{(sg)}} to rule and judge us
{\ADD{(exc)}}!/Do you
{\ADD{(sg)}} think someone appointed you
{\ADD{(sg)}} to rule and judge us
{\ADD{(exc)}}?► [RHQ]

\VS{28}Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’

\VS{29}When Moses heard that,
{\ADD{he thought to himself, ‘Obviously, people know what I have done, and someone will kill me.’ He was afraid, so}} he fled
{\ADD{from Egypt}} to Midian land. He lived there
{\ADD{for some years}}. He
{\ADD{got married, and he and his wife}} had two sons.”


\par }{\SH God commanded Moses to rescue the Jewish people from Egypt.
\par }
{\SR Acts 7:30-34

\par }{\PP \VS{30}“{\ADD{One day}} 40 years later,
{\ADD{the Lord God appeared as}} an angel to Moses. He appeared in a bush that was burning in the desert near Sinai Mountain.

\VS{31}When Moses saw that, he was greatly surprised,
{\ADD{because the bush was not burning up}}. As he went over to look more closely, he heard the Lord
{\ADD{God}} say
{\ADD{to him}},

\VS{32}‘I
{\ADD{am}} the God
{\ADD{whom}} your ancestors
{\ADD{worshipped}}. I
{\ADD{am}} the God that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
{\ADD{worship}}.’ Moses
{\ADD{was so afraid that he}} began to shake. He was afraid to look
{\ADD{at the bush any longer}}.

\VS{33}Then the Lord
{\ADD{God}} said to him, ‘Take your sandals off
{\ADD{to show that you(sg) revere me}}. Because I
{\ADD{am here}}, the place where you are standing is holy/sacred.

\VS{34}I have surely seen how the people of Egypt are continually causing my people to suffer. I have heard my people when they groan
{\ADD{because those people continually oppress them}}. So I have come down to rescue them
{\ADD{from Egypt}}. Now get ready, because I am going to send you
{\ADD{back}} to Egypt
{\ADD{to do that}}.’ ”


\par }{\SH God sent Moses to lead Israel and tell them of the Prophet who would come.
\par }
{\SR Acts 7:35-38

\par }{\PP \VS{35}“This Moses
{\ADD{is the one who had tried to help our Israeli people, but}} whom they rejected
{\ADD{by saying}}, ‘No one [RHQ] appointed you to rule and judge
{\ADD{us!’}} Moses
{\ADD{is the one whom}} God
{\ADD{himself}} sent to rule them and to free them
{\ADD{from being slaves. He is the one whom}} an angel in the bush
{\ADD{commanded to do that}}.

\VS{36}Moses
{\ADD{is the one who}} led our ancestors out
{\ADD{from Egypt}}. He did many kinds of miracles in Egypt, at the Red Sea, and during the 40 years
{\ADD{that the Israelite people lived}} in the desert.

\VS{37}This Moses is the one who said to the Israelite people, ‘God will appoint a prophet for you from among your own people.
{\ADD{He will speak words from God}}, just like I
{\ADD{speak his words to you}}.’

\VS{38}This man
{\ADD{Moses}} was
{\ADD{our people’s leader}} when they gathered together in the desert. It is Moses to whom
{\ADD{God sent}} the angel on Sinai Mountain to
{\ADD{give him our laws}}, and
{\ADD{he was the one who told}} our
{\ADD{other}} ancestors
{\ADD{what the angel had said}}. He was the one who received
{\ADD{from God}} words that tell us how to live
{\ADD{eternally, and Moses}} passed
{\ADD{them}} on to us.”


\par }{\SH Israel rejected Moses, so God rejected them and said that he would punish them.
\par }
{\SR Acts 7:39-43

\par }{\PP \VS{39}“{\ADD{However}}, our ancestors did not want to obey
{\ADD{Moses}}. Instead,
{\ADD{while he was still on the mountain}}, they rejected him
{\ADD{as their leader}} and decided that they wanted to return to Egypt.

\VS{40}So they told
{\ADD{his older brother}} Aaron, ‘Make idols for us who will be our gods to lead us
{\ADD{back to Egypt}}! As for that fellow Moses who led us out of Egypt we
{\ADD{(exc)}} do not know what has happened to him!’

\VS{41}So, they made
{\ADD{out of gold}} an image
{\ADD{that looked like}} a calf. Then they sacrificed
{\ADD{animals and offered other things}} to
{\ADD{honor}} that idol, and they sang and danced to honor the idol that they themselves had made.

\VS{42}So God rejected them. He abandoned them to worship the sun, moon and stars in the sky. This agrees with the words that one of the prophets wrote that God said,

\par }{\Q You Israelite
{\ADD{people}} [MTY], when you
{\ADD{repeatedly}} killed animals and offered them as sacrifices during those 40 years
{\ADD{that you were}} in the desert, ◄you
{\ADD{most certainly}} were not offering them to me!/what makes you think that you were offering them to me?► [RHQ]

\VS{43}{\ADD{On the contrary}}, you carried
{\ADD{with you from place to place}} the tent
{\ADD{that contained the idol}} representing
{\ADD{the god}} Molech
{\ADD{that you worshipped}}. You also
{\ADD{carried with you}} the image of the star
{\ADD{called}} Rephan.
{\ADD{Those}} were idols that you had made,
{\ADD{and you}} worshipped
{\ADD{them instead of me}}. So I will
{\ADD{cause you to}} be taken away $\{${\ADD{people to}} take you$\}$
{\ADD{from your own country. You will be taken}} $\{${\ADD{They will take you}}$\}$
{\ADD{far from your homes to regions}} even farther than Babylon
{\ADD{Country}}.”


\par }{\SH The Israelite people worshipped God at the tent Moses built and later in the temple that Solomon built.
\par }
{\SR Acts 7:44-47

\par }{\PP \VS{44}“While our ancestors were in the desert, they worshipped God at the tent that showed
{\ADD{that he was there with them}}. They had made the tent exactly like God had commanded Moses
{\ADD{to make it. It was}} exactly like the model that Moses had seen
{\ADD{when he was up on the mountain}}.

\VS{45}{\ADD{Later on}}, other ancestors of ours carried that tent with them when Joshua led them
{\ADD{into this land}}. That was during the time that they took this land for themselves, when God forced the people
{\ADD{who previously lived here}} to leave. So the Israelis were able to possess this land.
{\ADD{The tent remained in this land and was still here}} when
{\ADD{King}} David ruled.

\VS{46}David pleased God, and he asked God to let him build a house where
{\ADD{he and}} all of our Israeli people could worship God.

\VS{47}But
{\ADD{instead, God let David’s son}} Solomon build a house
{\ADD{where people could worship}} God.”


\par }{\SH People can worship God anywhere, not only at certain places.
\par }
{\SR Acts 7:48-50

\par }{\PP \VS{48}“However,
{\ADD{we(inc) know that}} God is greater than everything, and he does not live in
{\ADD{houses that}} people [SYN] have made. It is like the prophet
{\ADD{Isaiah}} wrote. He wrote
{\ADD{these words that God had spoken:}}


\par }{\Q \VS{49-50}Heaven is ◄my throne/the place from which I rule the entire universe►, and the earth is ◄my footstool/{\ADD{merely like}} a stool on which I may rest my feet►. I myself [SYN] have made everything
{\ADD{both in heaven and on the earth}}. So you
{\ADD{human beings}}, ◄{\ADD{you}} really cannot build a house that would be
{\ADD{adequate}} for me!/do you think you can build a house that would be
{\ADD{appropriate}} for me?► [RHQ] You cannot [RHQ] make a place good enough for me
{\ADD{to live in}}!”


\par }{\SH Stephen said that those who were listening to him were opposing God.
\par }
{\SR Acts 7:51-53

\par }{\PP \VS{51}“You people are extremely stubborn [MET], not wanting to obey God or listen [MTY]
{\ADD{to him!}} You are exactly like your ancestors! You always resist the Holy Spirit
{\ADD{as they did}}!

\VS{52}Your ancestors caused [RHQ] every prophet to suffer,
{\ADD{including Moses}}. They even killed those who long ago announced
{\ADD{that the Messiah}} would come, the one who always did what pleased God.
{\ADD{And the Messiah has come! He is the one whom}} you
{\ADD{recently}} turned over
{\ADD{to his enemies}} and
{\ADD{insisted that}} they kill him!

\VS{53}You
{\ADD{are the people}} who have received God’s laws.
{\ADD{Those were laws}} that God caused angels to give
{\ADD{to our ancestors}}. However,
{\ADD{incredibly}}, you have not obeyed them!”


\par }{\SH All the people there became very angry with Stephen.
\par }
{\SR Acts 7:54

\par }{\PP \VS{54}When the Jewish Council members
{\ADD{and others there}} heard all that
{\ADD{Stephen said}}, they became very angry. They were grinding their teeth
{\ADD{together because they were so angry}} at him!


\par }{\SH After Stephen said that he could see Jesus standing beside God in heaven, they stoned him.
\par }
{\SR Acts 7:55-59

\par }{\PP \VS{55}But the Holy Spirit completely controlled Stephen. He looked up into heaven and saw a dazzling light from God, and
{\ADD{he saw}} Jesus standing at God’s right side.

\VS{56}“Look,” he said, “I see heaven open, and I
{\ADD{see}} the one who came from heaven standing at God’s right side!”


\par }{\PP \VS{57}{\ADD{When the Jewish Council members and others heard that}}, they shouted loudly. They put their hands over their ears
{\ADD{so that they could not hear Stephen, and immediately}} they all rushed at him.

\VS{58}They dragged him outside the city
{\ADD{of Jerusalem}} and started to throw stones at him. The people who were accusing him
{\ADD{took off}} their outer garments
{\ADD{in order to throw stones more easily, and}} they put their clothes
{\ADD{on the ground}} next to a young man whose name was Saul,
{\ADD{so that he could guard them}}.

\VS{59}While they continued to throw stones at Stephen, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”


\par }{\SH He asked the Lord to forgive them, and he died. The disciples fled, some men buried Stephen, and Saul harassed believers. But the believers preached about Jesus wherever they were scattered.
\par }
{\SR Acts 7:60—8:3

\par }{\PP \VS{60}Then Stephen fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not punish them (OR, forgive them) [LIT] for this sin!” After he had said that, he died.




\par }\Chap{8}{\PP \VerseOne{1-2}Then some men who revered God buried Stephen’s body in a tomb, and they mourned greatly and loudly for him.

\par }{\PP On that same day
{\ADD{people}} started severely persecuting the believers
{\ADD{who were living}} in Jerusalem. So most
{\ADD{of the believers}} fled
{\ADD{to other places}} throughout Judea and Samaria
{\ADD{provinces}}. The apostles were the only
{\ADD{believers who remained in Jerusalem}}.

\VS{3}While the people were killing Stephen, Saul was there approving of their killing Stephen. So Saul
{\ADD{also}} began trying to destroy the group of believers. He entered houses one by one, he dragged away men and women
{\ADD{who believed in Jesus}}, and then he
{\ADD{arranged for}} them to be put in prison.


\par }{\SH Many Samaritans heeded Philip’s words and rejoiced.
\par }
{\SR Acts 8:4-8

\par }{\PP \VS{4}The believers who had left Jerusalem went to different places, where they continued preaching the message about Jesus.

\VS{5}{\ADD{One of those believers whose name was}} Philip went down
{\ADD{from Jerusalem}} to a city in Samaria
{\ADD{province}}. There he was telling
{\ADD{the people that Jesus is}} [MTY] the Messiah.

\VS{6}Many people there heard Philip
{\ADD{speak}} and saw the miraculous things that he was doing. So they all ◄paid close attention to/listened carefully to► his words.

\VS{7}For
{\ADD{example, when Philip commanded}} evil spirits who controlled many people
{\ADD{that they should come out of them}}, they came out, while those spirits screamed. Also, many people who were paralyzed and
{\ADD{many others}} who were lame were healed.

\VS{8}So
{\ADD{many people}} [MTY] in that city greatly rejoiced.


\par }{\SH Philip baptized many Samaritans, including a sorcerer.
\par }
{\SR Acts 8:9-13

\par }{\PP \VS{9}There was a man in that city whose name was Simon. He had been practicing sorcery for a long time, and he had been amazing the people in Samaria
{\ADD{province by doing that}}. He continually claimed that he was a great/important person.

\VS{10}All the people there, both ordinary and important people, listened to him.
{\ADD{Various ones of}} them were saying, “This man works in extremely powerful ways
{\ADD{because}} God has caused him to be a great
{\ADD{person}}.”

\VS{11}They continued to listen to him carefully, because for a long time he had astonished them by practicing sorcery.

\VS{12}But then they believed Philip’s
{\ADD{message}} when he preached to them about
{\ADD{how}} God desires to rule [MET]
{\ADD{the lives of people who believe in him}}, and about Jesus being the Messiah [MTY]. Both the men and the women who believed in Jesus were baptized. $\{${\ADD{Philip}} was baptizing both the men and the women
{\ADD{who had come to believe in Jesus}}$\}$.

\VS{13}Simon himself believed
{\ADD{Philip’s message}} and, after he was baptized $\{$after
{\ADD{Philip}} baptized him$\}$, he began to constantly accompany Philip. Simon was continually amazed because he often saw
{\ADD{Philip}} doing many kinds of miraculous things.


\par }{\SH Samaritan believers received the power of the Holy Spirit.
\par }
{\SR Acts 8:14-17

\par }{\PP \VS{14}When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that
{\ADD{many people}} [PRS]
{\ADD{throughout}} Samaria
{\ADD{district}} had believed the message from God
{\ADD{about Jesus}}, they sent Peter and John there.

\VS{15}When Peter and John arrived in Samaria, they prayed for those
{\ADD{new believers}} in order that the Holy Spirit’s
{\ADD{power}} would come to them.

\VS{16}{\ADD{Peter and John realized that}} the Holy Spirit had not yet begun to empower any of them. They had been baptized $\{${\ADD{Philip}} had baptized them$\}$
{\ADD{because they had believed}} in [MTY] the Lord Jesus,
{\ADD{but they did not know about the Holy Spirit}}.

\VS{17}{\ADD{Then Peter and John}} placed their hands on
{\ADD{the heads of}} each person, and they received the
{\ADD{power of}} [MTY] the Holy Spirit.


\par }{\SH Peter denounced Simon the sorcerer.
\par }
{\SR Acts 8:18-24

\par }{\PP \VS{18}Simon saw
{\ADD{things that convinced him}} that
{\ADD{God}} had given the Spirit’s
{\ADD{power to people}} as a result of the apostles placing their hands on them. So he offered
{\ADD{to give}} money to the apostles,

\VS{19}saying, “Enable me also to do what
{\ADD{you are doing}}, so that everyone on whom I place/put my hands may receive the Holy Spirit’s
{\ADD{power}}.”

\VS{20}But Peter said to him, “May you
{\ADD{(sg)}} and your money go to hell, because you
{\ADD{mistakenly}} think that you can buy
{\ADD{from us}} what God
{\ADD{alone}} gives to
{\ADD{people}}

\VS{21}{\ADD{God}} has not authorized you to have any part of this ministry of giving
{\ADD{the Holy Spirit’s power}}, because he knows that you are not thinking rightly! (OR, because he knows that you are thinking completely wrongly.)

\VS{22}So stop thinking wickedly
{\ADD{like}} that, and plead that the Lord, if he is willing, will forgive you
{\ADD{for what}} you
{\ADD{wickedly}} thought/planned
{\ADD{to do}}

\VS{23}{\ADD{Turn away from your evil ways}}, because I perceive that you
{\ADD{(sg)}} are extremely envious of
{\ADD{us}}, and you
{\ADD{are}} a slave of your
{\ADD{continual desire to do evil! God will certainly punish you severely}}!”

\VS{24}Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord
{\ADD{God}} that
{\ADD{he}} will not do to me what you just said!”


\par }{\SH Peter and John preached to many Samaritans.
\par }
{\SR Acts 8:25

\par }{\PP \VS{25}After
{\ADD{Peter and John}} told
{\ADD{people there}} what they knew personally
{\ADD{about the}} Lord
{\ADD{Jesus}} and declared to them the message about Jesus, they both returned to Jerusalem.
{\ADD{Along the way}} they preached the good message
{\ADD{about Jesus to people}} in many villages in Samaria
{\ADD{province}}.


\par }{\SH Philip met an Ethiopian official.
\par }
{\SR Acts 8:26-28

\par }{\PP \VS{26}{\ADD{One day}} an angel whom the Lord
{\ADD{God}} had sent commanded Philip, “Get ready and go south along the road that extends from Jerusalem to Gaza.”
{\ADD{That was}} a road in a desert area.

\VS{27}So Philip got ready and went
{\ADD{along that road}}. Suddenly he met a man from Ethiopia. He was an important official who took care of all the funds for the queen
{\ADD{of}} Ethiopia.
{\ADD{In his language people called their queen}} Candace. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship
{\ADD{God}},

\VS{28}and he was returning
{\ADD{home}} and was seated
{\ADD{riding}} in his chariot.
{\ADD{As he was riding}}, he was reading
{\ADD{out loud from}} what the prophet Isaiah
{\ADD{had written}} [MTY]
{\ADD{long ago}}.


\par }{\SH The official could not understand what he was reading.
\par }
{\SR Acts 8:29-31

\par }{\PP \VS{29}{\ADD{God’s}} Spirit told Philip, “Go near to that chariot and keep walking close to
{\ADD{the man who is riding in}} it!”

\VS{30}So Philip ran
{\ADD{to the chariot and kept running close to it}}. Then he heard the official reading what the prophet Isaiah
{\ADD{had written}}. He asked the man, “Do you
{\ADD{(sg)}} understand what you are reading?”

\VS{31}He answered Philip, “{\ADD{No!}} ◄I cannot possibly
{\ADD{understand it}} if
{\ADD{there is}} no one to explain it to me!/How can I
{\ADD{understand it}} if
{\ADD{there is}} no one to explain it to me?► [RHQ]”

\par }{\SH Philip preached about Jesus to the official.
\par }
{\SR Acts 8:31b-35

\par }{\PP Then the man said to Philip, “Please come up
{\ADD{and}} sit beside me.”
{\ADD{So Philip did that}}.

\VS{32}The part of the Scriptures that the official was reading was this:

\par }{\Q He will
{\ADD{be silent when}} they lead him away to kill him

\par }{\Q {\ADD{like when
}} a sheep
{\ADD{is led away to be killed}}.

\par }{\Q As a young sheep is silent when its wool is being cut off $\{$someone cuts off its wool$\}$,
{\ADD{similarly}} he will not protest [MTY]
{\ADD{when people cause him to suffer}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{33}When he will be humiliated by being accused falsely $\{$people will humiliate him
{\ADD{by accusing him falsely}}$\}$,

\par }{\Q {\ADD{the rulers}} ◄will not consider him innocent/will consider him guilty►.

\par }{\Q No one will possibly be able to tell about his descendants, because he will be killed $\{$people will kill him$\}$ without him having
{\ADD{any descendants}} on the earth.


\par }{\PP \VS{34}The official asked Philip
{\ADD{about these words that he was reading}}, “Tell me, who was the prophet writing about?
{\ADD{Was he writing}} about himself or about someone else?”

\VS{35}So Philip began
{\ADD{to explain}} that Scripture passage. He told him the good message about [MTY] Jesus.
{\ADD{So the official understood and believed in Jesus}}.


\par }{\SH Philip baptized the official. Then the Spirit took Philip away.
\par }
{\SR Acts 8:36-39

\par }{\PP \VS{36-37}While they were traveling along the road, they came to
{\ADD{a place where there was a pond of}} water
{\ADD{near the road}}. Then the official said
{\ADD{to Philip}}, “Look,
{\ADD{there is a pond of}} water! ◄I would like you to baptize me, because I do not know of anything that would prevent me from being baptized $\{$prevent
{\ADD{you}} from baptizing me.$\}$/Do you know of anything that would prevent me from being baptized $\{$prevent
{\ADD{you}} from baptizing me$\}$?► [RHQ]”

\VS{38}So the official told
{\ADD{the driver}} to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the official went down into the
{\ADD{pond of}} water, and
{\ADD{Philip}} baptized him.

\VS{39}When they came up out of the water, suddenly God’s Spirit took Philip away. The official never saw Philip again. But
{\ADD{although he never saw Philip again}}, the official continued going along the road, very happy
{\ADD{that God had saved him}}.


\par }{\SH Philip preached in towns from Azotus to Caesarea.
\par }
{\SR Acts 8:40

\par }{\PP \VS{40}Philip then realized
{\ADD{that the Spirit had miraculously taken him to}} Azotus
{\ADD{town}}. While he traveled around
{\ADD{in that region}}, he continued proclaiming the message
{\ADD{about Jesus}} in all the towns
{\ADD{between Azotus and Caesarea. And he was still proclaiming}} it when he finally arrived in Caesarea
{\ADD{city}}.




\par }\Chap{9}{\SH Saul asked the high priest to authorize him to arrest believers.
\par }
{\SR Acts 9:1-2

\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}Meanwhile, Saul angrily continued to say, “I will kill those who believe that
{\ADD{Jesus is}} the Lord!” He went to the supreme priest
{\ADD{in Jerusalem}}

\VS{2}and requested him
{\ADD{to write}} letters
{\ADD{introducing him}} to
{\ADD{the leaders of}} [MTY] the Jewish meeting places in Damascus
{\ADD{city. The letters asked them to authorize Saul}} to seize any men or women who followed the way
{\ADD{that Jesus had taught}}, and to take them as prisoners to Jerusalem
{\ADD{so that the Jewish leaders could judge and punish them}}.


\par }{\SH While Saul was traveling to Damascus, Jesus appeared to him and blinded him.
\par }
{\SR Acts 9:3-8

\par }{\PP \VS{3}Saul took those letters, and while he
{\ADD{and those with him}} traveled toward Damascus, as they were approaching the city, suddenly a
{\ADD{brilliant}} light from heaven shone around Saul.

\VS{4}{\ADD{Immediately}} he fell down to the ground. Then he heard the voice
{\ADD{of the Lord}} say to him, “Saul, Saul, ◄stop causing me to suffer!/why are you causing me to suffer?► [RHQ]”

\VS{5}Saul asked him, “Lord, who are you?” He replied, “I am Jesus,
{\ADD{and}} you
{\ADD{(sg)}} are causing me to suffer
{\ADD{by hurting my followers}}!

\VS{6}Now instead
{\ADD{of continuing to do that}}, stand up and go into the city!
{\ADD{Someone there}} will tell you
{\ADD{(sg)}} what I
{\ADD{want}} you to do.”

\VS{7}The men who were traveling with Saul
{\ADD{became so frightened that they}} could not say anything.
{\ADD{They just}} stood there. They only heard the sound
{\ADD{when the Lord spoke}}, but they did not see anyone.

\VS{8}Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could not see anything. So the men
{\ADD{with him}} took him by the hand and led him into Damascus.

\VS{9}For the next three days Saul could not see
{\ADD{anything}}, and he did not eat or drink anything.


\par }{\SH Saul could see again after Ananias had put his hands on him.
\par }
{\SR Acts 9:9-19

\par }{\PP \VS{10}In Damascus there was
{\ADD{a Jew}} named Ananias who believed in Jesus. While
{\ADD{Ananias was seeing}} a vision, the Lord
{\ADD{Jesus}} said to him, “Ananias!” He replied, “Lord, I
{\ADD{am listening}}.”

\VS{11}The Lord Jesus told him, “Go to Straight Street to the house that belongs to Judas. Ask
{\ADD{someone there if you(sg) can talk to}} a man named Saul from Tarsus
{\ADD{city}}, because, surprisingly, at this moment he is praying
{\ADD{to me}}.

\VS{12}{\ADD{Saul has seen}} a vision in which a man named Ananias entered
{\ADD{the house where he was staying}} and put his hands on him in order that he might see again.”

\VS{13}But Ananias
{\ADD{protested}}, saying, “But Lord, many people have told me about this man! He has done many evil things to the people in Jerusalem who
{\ADD{believe in}} you!

\VS{14}And the chief priests have authorized him to come here
{\ADD{to Damascus}} in order to seize all of us who believe in you
{\ADD{(sg)}} [MTY]
{\ADD{and take us to Jerusalem}}!”

\VS{15}But the Lord
{\ADD{Jesus}} told Ananias, “Go to
{\ADD{Saul! Do what I say}}, because I have chosen him to serve me in order that he might speak about me [MTY] both to non-Jewish people and
{\ADD{their}} kings and to the Israeli people.

\VS{16}I myself will tell him that he must often suffer greatly because of
{\ADD{telling people about}} me [MTY].”

\VS{17}So Ananias went, and
{\ADD{after he found}} the house
{\ADD{where Saul was}}, he entered it. Then,
{\ADD{as soon as he met Saul}}, he put his hands on him, and he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus
{\ADD{himself}} commanded me to come
{\ADD{to you}}. He is the
{\ADD{same}} one who appeared to you
{\ADD{(sg)}} while you were traveling along the road.
{\ADD{He sent me to you}} in order that you might see again and that you might be completely controlled by the Holy Spirit $\{$that the Holy Spirit might completely control you$\}$.”

\VS{18}Instantly, things like
{\ADD{fish}} scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he was able to see again. Then he stood up and was baptized $\{${\ADD{Ananias}} baptized him$\}$
{\ADD{immediately}}.

\VS{19}After Saul ate some food, he felt strong again. Saul stayed with the
{\ADD{other}} believers in Damascus for several days.


\par }{\SH People there were astonished that Saul had believed in Jesus.
\par }
{\SR Acts 9:20-22

\par }{\PP \VS{20}Right away Saul began to preach
{\ADD{to people about Jesus}} in the Jewish meeting places
{\ADD{in Damascus. He told them}} that Jesus is ◄the Son of/the man who is also► God.

\VS{21}And all the people who heard him
{\ADD{preach}} were amazed.
{\ADD{Various ones of}} them were saying, “◄{\ADD{We(inc) can hardly believe that}} this is the
{\ADD{same man}} who persecuted the believers in Jerusalem!/Is this really the
{\ADD{same man}} who persecuted the believers in Jerusalem?► [RHQ, MTY] And we
{\ADD{(inc)}} know that he has [RHQ] come here to seize us and take us to the chief priests
{\ADD{in Jerusalem}}!”

\VS{22}But
{\ADD{God}} enabled Saul
{\ADD{to preach to many people even}} more convincingly. He was proving
{\ADD{from the Scriptures}} that Jesus is the Messiah. So the Jewish leaders in Damascus could not think of anything ◄to refute
{\ADD{what he said/to prove that what he said was not true}}►.


\par }{\SH Saul escaped from those who plotted to kill him.
\par }
{\SR Acts 9:23-25

\par }{\PP \VS{23}Some time later,
{\ADD{after Saul had left Damascus and then returned}}, the Jewish
{\ADD{leaders}} [SYN]
{\ADD{there}} plotted to kill him.

\VS{24}{\ADD{During each}} day and night those Jews were continually watching
{\ADD{the people passing through}} the city gates, in order that
{\ADD{when they saw Saul}} they might kill him. However, someone told Saul what they planned to do.

\VS{25}So some of those whom he had helped
{\ADD{to believe in Jesus}} took him
{\ADD{one}} night
{\ADD{to the high stone wall that surrounded the city}}. They
{\ADD{used ropes to}} lower him in a
{\ADD{large}} basket through an opening in the wall.
{\ADD{So he escaped from Damascus}}.


\par }{\SH Barnabas introduced Saul to other believers in Jerusalem.
\par }
{\SR Acts 9:26-28

\par }{\PP \VS{26}When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he began trying to associate with other believers. However,
{\ADD{almost}} all of them continued to be afraid of him, because they did not believe that he had become a believer.

\VS{27}But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He explained to the apostles how,
{\ADD{while Saul was traveling}} along the road
{\ADD{to Damascus}}, he had seen the Lord
{\ADD{Jesus}} and how the Lord had spoken to him
{\ADD{there. He}} also told them how Saul had preached boldly about Jesus [MTY]
{\ADD{to people}} in Damascus.
{\ADD{The apostles believed Barnabas and told the other believers about that}}.

\VS{28}So Saul began to associate with the apostles
{\ADD{and other believers}} throughout Jerusalem, and he spoke boldly
{\ADD{to people}} about [MTY] the Lord
{\ADD{Jesus}}.


\par }{\SH The believers sent Saul to Tarsus because some Jews tried to kill him.
\par }
{\SR Acts 9:29-30

\par }{\PP \VS{29}Saul was
{\ADD{also}} speaking
{\ADD{about Jesus}} with Jews who spoke Greek, and he was debating with them. But they were continually trying
{\ADD{to think}} ◄{\ADD{of a way}} to kill him/of
{\ADD{how they could}} kill him►.

\VS{30}When the
{\ADD{other}} believers heard that
{\ADD{those Jews were planning to kill him, some of}} the believers took Saul down to Caesarea
{\ADD{city. There}} they arranged for him to go
{\ADD{by ship}} to Tarsus,
{\ADD{his hometown}}.


\par }{\SH The church in Israel had peace and many people believed.
\par }
{\SR Acts 9:31

\par }{\PP \VS{31}So the groups of believers throughout
{\ADD{the entire regions of}} Judea, Galilee, and Samaria lived peacefully
{\ADD{because no one was persecuting them any more}}. The Holy Spirit was strengthening them
{\ADD{spiritually}} and encouraging them. They were continuing to revere/honor the Lord
{\ADD{Jesus, and the Holy Spirit}} was enabling many other people
{\ADD{to become believers}}.


\par }{\SH Because Peter healed Aeneas, many people believed in Jesus.
\par }
{\SR Acts 9:32-35

\par }{\PP \VS{32}While Peter was traveling throughout those
{\ADD{regions, once}} he went to
{\ADD{the coastal plain to visit}} the believers
{\ADD{who lived}} in Lydda
{\ADD{town}}.

\VS{33}There he met a man whose name was Aeneas. Aeneas had not been able to get up from
{\ADD{his}} bed for eight years, because he was paralyzed.

\VS{34}Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you
{\ADD{(sg) right now}}! Get up and roll up your mat!” Right away Aeneas stood up.

\VS{35}Most of the people who lived in Lydda and on Sharon
{\ADD{Plain}} saw Aeneas
{\ADD{after the Lord had healed him}}, so they believed in the Lord
{\ADD{Jesus}}.


\par }{\SH Dorcas died.
\par }
{\SR Acts 9:36-37

\par }{\PP \VS{36}In Joppa
{\ADD{town}} there was a believer whose name was Tabitha.
{\ADD{Her name}} in the
{\ADD{Greek}} language was Dorcas.
{\ADD{Both of these names mean gazelle/deer/antelope}}. That woman was continually doing good deeds
{\ADD{for others. Specifically}}, she was helping poor people
{\ADD{by giving them things that they needed}}.

\VS{37}During the time
{\ADD{that Peter was in Lydda}}, she became sick and died.
{\ADD{Some women there}} washed her body
{\ADD{according to the Jewish custom so that the people could bury it}}. Then they
{\ADD{covered her body with cloth and}} placed it in an upstairs room
{\ADD{in her house}}.


\par }{\SH Peter resurrected Dorcas.
\par }
{\SR Acts 9:38-43

\par }{\PP \VS{38}Lydda was near Joppa, so when the believers heard that Peter was
{\ADD{still}} in Lydda, they sent two men to
{\ADD{go}} to Peter.
{\ADD{When they arrived where Peter was}}, they repeatedly urged/begged him, “Please come immediately with us
{\ADD{to Joppa}}!”

\VS{39}So
{\ADD{right away}} Peter got ready and went with them. When they arrived
{\ADD{at the house in Joppa}}, the two men took Peter to the upstairs room
{\ADD{where Dorcas’ body was lying}}. All the widows
{\ADD{there}}crowded around Peter. They were crying and showing him the cloaks and
{\ADD{other}} garments that Dorcas had made for people while she was still alive.

\VS{40}But Peter sent them all out of the room. Then he got down on his knees and prayed. Then, turning toward Tabitha’s body, he said, “Tabitha, stand up!”
{\ADD{Immediately}} she opened her eyes and, when she saw Peter, she sat up.

\VS{41}He grasped one of her hands and helped her to stand up. After he had summoned the believers and
{\ADD{especially}} the widows
{\ADD{among them to come back in}}, he showed them that Tabitha was alive
{\ADD{again}}.

\VS{42}{\ADD{Soon}} people everywhere in Joppa knew about that miracle, and as a result many people believed in the Lord
{\ADD{Jesus}}.

\VS{43}Peter stayed in Joppa many days with a man named Simon who made leather
{\ADD{from animal skins}}.




\par }\Chap{10}{\SH Obeying an angel, Cornelius sent men to summon Peter.
\par }
{\SR Acts 10:1-8

\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}{\ADD{There was}} a man
{\ADD{who lived}} in Caesarea
{\ADD{city}} whose name was Cornelius. He was an officer who commanded 100 men in a large group of
{\ADD{Roman}} soldiers from Italy.

\VS{2}He always tried to do what would please God; he and his entire household [MTY]
{\ADD{were non-Jews who}} habitually worshipped God. He sometimes gave money to help poor
{\ADD{Jewish}} people, and he prayed to God regularly.


\par }{\PP \VS{3}{\ADD{One day}} at about three o’clock in the afternoon
{\ADD{Cornelius saw}} a vision. He clearly saw an angel whom God
{\ADD{had sent}}. The angel came into
{\ADD{his room}} and said to him, “Cornelius!”

\VS{4}Cornelius stared at the angel and became terrified. Then he asked
{\ADD{fearfully}}, “Sir, what do you
{\ADD{(sg)}} want?” The angel answered him, “You
{\ADD{(sg)}} have pleased God because you have been praying
{\ADD{regularly to him}} and you often give money to
{\ADD{help}} poor people.
{\ADD{Those things have been}} like a sacrifice
{\ADD{to God}}.

\VS{5}So, now command some men to go to Joppa and
{\ADD{tell them to}} bring back a man named Simon whose other name is Peter.

\VS{6}He is staying with a man,
{\ADD{also}} named Simon, who makes leather. His house is near the ocean.”

\VS{7}When the angel who spoke to Cornelius had gone, Cornelius summoned two of his household servants and a soldier who served him, one who also worshipped God.

\VS{8}He explained to them everything
{\ADD{that the angel had said. Then}} he told them to go to Joppa
{\ADD{to ask Peter to come to Caesarea}}.


\par }{\SH Peter’s vision.
\par }
{\SR Acts 10:9-16

\par }{\PP \VS{9}About noon the next day those
{\ADD{three men}} were traveling
{\ADD{along the road}} and were coming near
{\ADD{Joppa. As they were approaching Joppa}}, Peter went up on the
{\ADD{flat}} housetop to pray.

\VS{10}He became hungry and wanted something to eat. While someone was preparing the food,
{\ADD{Peter}} saw
{\ADD{this}} vision:

\VS{11}◄He saw heaven open/He saw an opening in the sky► and something like a large sheet was being lowered
{\ADD{to the ground}}.
{\ADD{It was tied at}} its four corners
{\ADD{with ropes}}.

\VS{12}Inside the sheet were all kinds of creatures.
{\ADD{These included animals and birds that the Mosaic laws forbade Jews to eat}}. Some had four feet, others scurried across the ground, and others were wild birds.

\VS{13}Then
{\ADD{he heard}} God [SYN] say to him, “Peter, stand up, kill
{\ADD{and cook some of these}} and eat
{\ADD{their meat}}!”

\VS{14}But Peter replied, “Lord, surely you
{\ADD{(sg)}} do not
{\ADD{really want me to do that}}! I have never eaten any
{\ADD{meat}} that
{\ADD{our Jewish law says}} is unacceptable to God or
{\ADD{something that we(exc)}} must not eat!”

\VS{15}{\ADD{Then Peter heard}} [MTY] God talk to him a second time. He said, “{\ADD{I am}} God,
{\ADD{so}} if I have made something acceptable
{\ADD{to eat}}, do not say that it is not acceptable
{\ADD{to eat}}!”

\VS{16}{\ADD{This happened}} three
{\ADD{times, so Peter knew that he had to think carefully about what it might mean}}. Immediately
{\ADD{after God had said that the third time}}, ◄{\ADD{the}} sheet
{\ADD{with the animals and birds}} was the pulled back into heaven/{\ADD{someone}} pulled the sheet
{\ADD{with the animals and birds}} up into the sky again►.


\par }{\SH The Holy Spirit commanded Peter to go with the non-Jewish men.
\par }
{\SR Acts 10:17-23a

\par }{\PP \VS{17}While Peter was trying to understand what that vision meant, the men who had been sent by Cornelius $\{$whom Cornelius had sent$\}$
{\ADD{arrived in Joppa. They asked people how to get to}} Simon’s house.
{\ADD{So they found his house}} and were standing outside the gate.

\VS{18}They called and were asking if a man named Simon, whose other name was Peter, was staying there.

\VS{19}While Peter was still trying to understand
{\ADD{what}} the vision
{\ADD{meant}},
{\ADD{God’s}} Spirit said to him, “Three men
{\ADD{are here who}} want to see you.

\VS{20}So get up and go downstairs and go with them! Do not think that you
{\ADD{(sg)}} should not go with them
{\ADD{because of their being non-Jews}}, because I have sent them
{\ADD{here}}!”

\VS{21}So Peter went down to the men and said to them, “{\ADD{Greetings!}} I am
{\ADD{the man}} you are looking for. Why have you come?”

\VS{22}One of them replied, “Cornelius, who is a
{\ADD{Roman}} army officer,
{\ADD{sent us here}}. He is a righteous man who worships God, and all of the Jewish people [HYP]
{\ADD{who know about him}} say that he is a very good man. An angel ◄who was sent from God/whom God sent► said to him, ‘Tell some men to
{\ADD{go to Joppa to see Simon Peter and}} bring him here, so that you
{\ADD{(sg)}} can hear what he has to say.’ ”

\VS{23}So Peter
{\ADD{said that he would go with them, and then he}} invited them into
{\ADD{the house}} and told them that they could stay
{\ADD{there that night}}.

\par }{\SH Peter went with the men and met Cornelius.
\par }
{\SR Acts 10:23b-26

\par }{\PP The next day Peter got ready and went with the men. Several of the believers from Joppa went with him.

\VS{24}The day after that, they arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them. He had also invited his relatives and close friends
{\ADD{to come to his house, so they were there, too}}.

\VS{25}When Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and bowed low in front of him to worship him.

\VS{26}But Peter
{\ADD{grasped Cornelius by the hand and}} lifted him to his feet. He said, “Stand up!
{\ADD{Do not revere/worship me}} I myself am only human,
{\ADD{like you}}!”


\par }{\SH Peter asked why they had sent for him.
\par }
{\SR Acts 10:27-29

\par }{\PP \VS{27}While he was talking to Cornelius, Peter
{\ADD{and the others}} entered
{\ADD{a large room inside the house}}. Peter saw that many people had gathered together
{\ADD{there}}.

\VS{28}Then Peter said to them, “You all know that any
{\ADD{of us}} Jews think we are disobeying
{\ADD{our Jewish}} laws if we
{\ADD{(exc)}} associate with a non-Jewish person or
{\ADD{if we even}} visit him. However, God has shown me
{\ADD{in a vision}} that I should not say about anyone that God will not accept him.

\VS{29}So when you sent
{\ADD{some men}} to ask me to come
{\ADD{here}}, I came
{\ADD{right away. I}} did not say that I could not go
{\ADD{with non-Jewish people. So, please tell me}}, why have you asked me to come
{\ADD{here}}?”


\par }{\SH Cornelius told about his vision.
\par }
{\SR Acts 10:30-33

\par }{\PP \VS{30}Cornelius replied, “About this time four days ago I was praying
{\ADD{to God}} in my house,
{\ADD{as I regularly do}} at three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly a man whose clothes
{\ADD{shone}} brightly stood in front of me,

\VS{31}and said, ‘Cornelius, when you
{\ADD{(sg)}} have prayed, you have been heard by God $\{$God has heard
{\ADD{when}} you
{\ADD{(sg)}} have prayed
{\ADD{to him}}$\}$. He has also noticed that you have
{\ADD{often}} given money to
{\ADD{help}} poor people,
{\ADD{and he is pleased with that}}.

\VS{32}So now, send
{\ADD{messengers to go}} to Joppa,
{\ADD{in order}} to ask Simon whose other name is Peter to come
{\ADD{here}}. He is staying near the ocean in a house that belongs to
{\ADD{another}} man named Simon, who makes leather.
{\ADD{When Simon Peter comes, he will tell you a message from God}}.’

\VS{33}So I immediately sent
{\ADD{some men who asked}} you
{\ADD{(sg) to come here}}, and I
{\ADD{certainly}} thank you for coming. Now we
{\ADD{(exc)}} all are gathered
{\ADD{here, knowing that}} God is with us, in order to hear all the things that the Lord
{\ADD{God}} has commanded you
{\ADD{to say. So please speak to us}}.”


\par }{\SH Peter reminded them of what they knew about Jesus.
\par }
{\SR Acts 10:34-38

\par }{\PP \VS{34}So Peter began to speak [MTY] to them. He said, “{\ADD{Now}} I understand that it is true that God does not favor only certain groups
{\ADD{of people}}.

\VS{35}Instead, from every group of people he accepts
{\ADD{everyone who}} honors him and who does what pleases him.

\VS{36}{\ADD{You know}} the message that God sent to
{\ADD{us}} Israelis.
{\ADD{He}} proclaimed
{\ADD{to us the good news that he}} would cause
{\ADD{people}} to have peace
{\ADD{with him}} because of what Jesus Christ
{\ADD{has done}}. This
{\ADD{Jesus is Lord not only over us Israelis. He}} is
{\ADD{also the}} Lord
{\ADD{who rules}} over all
{\ADD{people}}.

\VS{37}You know what
{\ADD{he}} did throughout the land of Judea, beginning in Galilee. He began
{\ADD{to do those things}} after John had been proclaiming
{\ADD{to people that they should turn away from their sinful behavior before}} he baptized them.

\VS{38}You know that God gave [MTY] his Holy Spirit to Jesus,
{\ADD{the Man}} from Nazareth
{\ADD{town}}, and gave him the power
{\ADD{to do miracles. You also know}} how Jesus went to many places, always doing good deeds and healing
{\ADD{people. Specifically}}, he was continually healing all the people whom the devil was causing to suffer.
{\ADD{Jesus was able to do those things}} because God was always helping him.”


\par }{\SH Peter said that God would forgive the sins of all who believe in Jesus.
\par }
{\SR Acts 10:39-43

\par }{\PP \VS{39}“We
{\ADD{apostles}} tell people about all the things that
{\ADD{we saw Jesus}} do in Jerusalem and in the
{\ADD{rest of}} Israel.
{\ADD{The leaders in Jerusalem}} had him killed by being nailed to a cross.

\VS{40}However, God caused him to become alive again on the third day
{\ADD{after he had died}}. God
{\ADD{also}} enabled
{\ADD{some of us(exc)}} to see him
{\ADD{so that we would know that he was alive again}}.

\VS{41}God
{\ADD{did}} not
{\ADD{let}} all the
{\ADD{Jewish}} people see him. Instead, he had chosen us
{\ADD{apostles}} beforehand to see
{\ADD{Jesus after he became alive again}}, and to tell others
{\ADD{about him}}. We
{\ADD{apostles are the people}} who ate meals with him ◄after he had become alive
{\ADD{again}}/after he had risen from the dead►.

\VS{42}God commanded us to preach to the people and tell them that Jesus is the one whom he has appointed to judge
{\ADD{everyone some day. He will judge all
}} those who will
{\ADD{still
}} be living and all those who will have died
{\ADD{by that time}}.

\VS{43}All of the prophets
{\ADD{who wrote about the Messiah long ago}} told
{\ADD{people}} about him.
{\ADD{They wrote}} that if people believe in the Messiah [MTY], God would forgive
{\ADD{them for}} their sins, because of what
{\ADD{the Messiah would do}} for them.”


\par }{\SH The Holy Spirit came down on the non-Jewish believers.
\par }
{\SR Acts 10:44-48

\par }{\PP \VS{44}While Peter was still speaking those words, suddenly the Holy Spirit ◄came down on/began to control► all
{\ADD{those non-Jewish people}} who were listening to the message.

\VS{45}The Jewish believers who had come with Peter
{\ADD{from Joppa}} were amazed that
{\ADD{God}} had generously given the Holy Spirit to the non-Jewish people, too.

\VS{46}{\ADD{The Jewish believers knew that God had done that}} because they were hearing those people speaking languages [MTY]
{\ADD{that they had not learned}} and telling how great God is.

\VS{47}Then Peter said
{\ADD{to the other Jewish believers who were there}}, “{\ADD{God}} has given them the Holy Spirit just like
{\ADD{he gave him}} to us
{\ADD{Jewish believers}}, so ◄surely all of you would agree that
{\ADD{we(exc)}} should baptize these people!/would any of you forbid that these people should be baptized?► [RHQ]”

\VS{48}Then Peter told those
{\ADD{non-Jewish}} people that they should be baptized
{\ADD{to show that they had believed}} [MTY] in the
{\ADD{Lord}} Jesus Christ.
{\ADD{So they baptized all of them. After they were baptized}}, they requested that Peter stay
{\ADD{with them}} several days.
{\ADD{So Peter and the other Jewish believers did that}}.




\par }\Chap{11}{\SH Some Jewish believers criticized Peter.
\par }
{\SR Acts 11:1-3

\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}The apostles and
{\ADD{other}} believers who lived in various towns in Judea
{\ADD{province}} heard people say that
{\ADD{some}} non-Jewish people had believed the message
{\ADD{from}} God
{\ADD{about Jesus}}.

\VS{2}So when Peter
{\ADD{and the six other believers}} returned
{\ADD{from Caesarea}} to Jerusalem,
{\ADD{some}} Jewish believers criticized Peter,
{\ADD{because they thought that Jews should not associate with non-Jews}} [MTY].

\VS{3}They said to him, “Not only was it wrong for you(sg) to visit non-Jewish people, you
{\ADD{even}} ate with them!”


\par }{\SH Peter told about his vision.
\par }
{\SR Acts 11:4-10

\par }{\PP \VS{4}So Peter began to explain exactly
{\ADD{what had happened concerning Cornelius}}.

\VS{5}He said, “I was praying
{\ADD{by myself}} in Joppa
{\ADD{town}}, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw that something like a large sheet was being lowered from heaven.
{\ADD{It was tied with ropes}} at its four corners, and it came down to where I was.

\VS{6}As I was looking intently into it, I saw some tame animals
{\ADD{but also animals that our laws forbid us to eat, including}} wild animals, snakes, and wild birds.

\VS{7}Then I heard God [MTY] commanding me, ‘Peter, get up, kill
{\ADD{some of these}}, and
{\ADD{cook and}} eat
{\ADD{their meat}}!’

\VS{8}But I replied, ‘Lord,
{\ADD{you(sg)}} surely do not
{\ADD{really want me to do that}}, because I have never eaten [MTY] meat
{\ADD{from any animal}} that
{\ADD{our laws say}} that we
{\ADD{(exc)}} must not eat [SYN]!’

\VS{9}God spoke from heaven
{\ADD{to me}} a second time, ‘{\ADD{I am}} God,
{\ADD{so}} if I have made something acceptable
{\ADD{to eat}}, do not say that it is not acceptable
{\ADD{to eat}}!’

\VS{10}Then
{\ADD{after that happened three times, the sheet with}} all
{\ADD{those animals and birds}} was pulled up into heaven again.”


\par }{\SH Peter said that the Holy Spirit came to be with the non-Jewish believers. Peter accepted those non-Jews as fellow believers.
\par }
{\SR Acts 11:11-17

\par }{\PP \VS{11}“At that exact moment, three men who had been $\{$whom
{\ADD{Cornelius}} had$\}$ sent from Caesarea arrived at the house where I was staying.

\VS{12}{\ADD{God’s}} Spirit told me that I should be willing to go with them
{\ADD{even though they were not Jews}}. These six
{\ADD{Jewish}} believers
{\ADD{from Joppa}} went with me
{\ADD{to Caesarea}}, and then we
{\ADD{(exc)}} went into that
{\ADD{non-Jewish}} man’s house.

\VS{13}He told us that he had seen an angel standing in his house. The angel told him, ‘Tell some
{\ADD{men}} to go to Joppa and bring back Simon whose other name is Peter.

\VS{14}He will tell you
{\ADD{(sg)}} how you and everyone [MTY] else in your house will be saved $\{$how
{\ADD{God}} will save you and everyone [MTY] else in your house$\}$.’

\VS{15}After I started to speak, the Holy Spirit
{\ADD{suddenly}} came down on them, just like he had first [MTY] come on us
{\ADD{during the Pentecost festival}}.

\VS{16}Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John caused people to be baptized in water, but
{\ADD{God}} will cause the Holy Spirit
{\ADD{to enter you and change your lives.’}}

\VS{17}God gave those non-Jews the same Holy Spirit that he had given to us
{\ADD{(inc)}} after we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. So, ◄{\ADD{I}} could not
{\ADD{possibly}} tell God that he did wrong
{\ADD{when he gave them the Holy Spirit!}}/how could I
{\ADD{tell}} God that he did wrong
{\ADD{when he gave them the Holy Spirit}}?► [RHQ]
{\ADD{He was showing that he had received them}}!”


\par }{\SH They praised God that he also saves non-Jewish people.
\par }
{\SR Acts 11:18

\par }{\PP \VS{18}After
{\ADD{those Jewish believers}} heard what Peter said, they stopped criticizing
{\ADD{him. Instead}}, they praised God, saying, “Then it is
{\ADD{clear to us that}} God has also accepted the non-Jews so that they will have eternal life, if they turn from their sinful behavior
{\ADD{and believe in Jesus}}!”


\par }{\SH Many non-Jews in Antioch believed in the Lord Jesus.
\par }
{\SR Acts 11:19-21

\par }{\PP \VS{19}After
{\ADD{people had killed}} Stephen, many of the believers left
{\ADD{Jerusalem and went}} to other places, because people were causing them to suffer
{\ADD{there in Jerusalem. Some of}} them went to Phoenicia
{\ADD{region}}, some went to Cyprus
{\ADD{Island}}, and others went to Antioch
{\ADD{city in Syria province. In those places}} they were continually telling people the message
{\ADD{about Jesus}}, but they told only other Jewish people.

\VS{20}Some of the believers were men from Cyprus and from Cyrene
{\ADD{city in north Africa}}. They went to Antioch, and
{\ADD{although they told other Jews about}} the Lord Jesus, they also told non-Jewish people
{\ADD{there}}.

\VS{21}The Lord
{\ADD{God}} [MTY] was powerfully enabling those
{\ADD{believers to preach effectively. As a result}}, very many
{\ADD{non-Jewish}} people believed
{\ADD{their message and}} trusted in the Lord
{\ADD{Jesus}}.


\par }{\SH Barnabas encouraged the believers at Antioch.
\par }
{\SR Acts 11:22-24

\par }{\PP \VS{22}The group of believers in Jerusalem heard [MTY]
{\ADD{people say that many people in Antioch were believing in Jesus. So}} the
{\ADD{leaders}} of the congregation in
{\ADD{Jerusalem}} asked Barnabas to go to Antioch.

\VS{23}When he got
{\ADD{there}}, he realized that God had acted kindly toward
{\ADD{the believers. So}} he was very happy, and he continually encouraged all of the
{\ADD{believers}} to continue to trust completely in the Lord
{\ADD{Jesus}}.

\VS{24}Barnabas was a good man
{\ADD{whom}} the Holy Spirit completely controlled, one who trusted
{\ADD{God}} completely.
{\ADD{Because of what Barnabas did}}, many people
{\ADD{there}} believed in the Lord
{\ADD{Jesus}}.


\par }{\SH Barnabas and Saul taught many believers at Antioch.
\par }
{\SR Acts 11:25-26

\par }{\PP \VS{25}Then Barnabas went to Tarsus
{\ADD{in Cilicia province to try}} to find Saul.

\VS{26}After he found him, Barnabas brought him
{\ADD{back to}} Antioch
{\ADD{to help teach the believers. So during}} a whole year
{\ADD{Barnabas and Saul}} met
{\ADD{regularly}} with the congregation
{\ADD{there}} and taught many of them
{\ADD{about Jesus. It was}} at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians $\{${\ADD{that people}} first called the believers Christians$\}$.


\par }{\SH Believers in Antioch helped needy believers in Judea.
\par }
{\SR Acts 11:27-30

\par }{\PP \VS{27}During the time
{\ADD{that Barnabas and Saul were}} at Antioch, some
{\ADD{believers who were}} prophets arrived there from Jerusalem.

\VS{28}One of them, whose name was Agabus, stood up
{\ADD{in order to speak}}.
{\ADD{God’s}} Spirit enabled him to prophesy ◄that there would soon be a famine in many countries/that
{\ADD{people}} in many countries [HYP] would soon
{\ADD{suffer because they}} would not have enough
{\ADD{food}} to eat►. (That famine happened when Claudius was the
{\ADD{Roman Emperor}}.)

\VS{29}When the believers
{\ADD{there heard what Agabus said}}, they decided that they would send
{\ADD{money}} to help the believers who lived in Judea. Each
{\ADD{of them decided to give as much money}} as he was able
{\ADD{to give}}.

\VS{30}They sent
{\ADD{the money}} with Barnabas and Saul to the leaders of the congregation
{\ADD{in Jerusalem}}.




\par }\Chap{12}{\SH Herod had James killed and Peter put in prison.
\par }
{\SR Acts 12:1-4

\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}It was about this time that King Herod
{\ADD{Agrippa sent soldiers}} [MTY] who seized
{\ADD{and put in prison}} some of the
{\ADD{leaders}} of the congregation
{\ADD{in Jerusalem. He did that}} because he wanted to make the believers suffer.

\VS{2}He commanded
{\ADD{a soldier}} to cut off the head of
{\ADD{the apostle}} James, the
{\ADD{older}} brother of
{\ADD{the apostle}} John.

\VS{3}When Herod realized that he had pleased the
{\ADD{leaders of the}} Jewish people by
{\ADD{doing that}}, he commanded
{\ADD{soldiers}} to arrest Peter
{\ADD{in order to kill him}}, too. This happened during the festival
{\ADD{when the Jewish people ate}} bread
{\ADD{that}} did not have yeast.

\VS{4}After
{\ADD{they}} seized Peter, they put him in prison. They arranged for four groups of soldiers to guard Peter. Each
{\ADD{group}} had four soldiers.
{\ADD{Every three hours a different group began to guard him while the others rested}}. Herod wanted to bring Peter out
{\ADD{of prison and judge him}} in front of the
{\ADD{Jewish}} people after the Passover
{\ADD{Festival was finished. He then planned to command soldiers to execute Peter}}.


\par }{\SH An angel freed Peter from prison.
\par }
{\SR Acts 12:5-11

\par }{\PP \VS{5}So
{\ADD{for several days}} Peter was kept $\{$they kept Peter$\}$ in prison. But the
{\ADD{other believers}} in the congregation at
{\ADD{Jerusalem}} were praying earnestly to God
{\ADD{that he would help}} Peter.

\VS{6}The night
{\ADD{before}} Herod planned to bring Peter out
{\ADD{from prison to have him executed}} publicly, Peter was sleeping
{\ADD{in the prison}} between two soldiers, with two chains binding his arms
{\ADD{to the arms of the soldiers. Two other}} soldiers were guarding the prison doors.

\VS{7}Suddenly an angel
{\ADD{from}} the Lord
{\ADD{God}} stood
{\ADD{beside Peter}}, and a
{\ADD{bright}} light shone in his cell. The angel poked Peter in the side and woke him up and said, “Get up quickly!”
{\ADD{While Peter was getting up}}, the chains fell off from his wrists.
{\ADD{However, the soldiers were not aware of what was happening}}.

\VS{8}Then the angel said to Peter, “Put on your clothes and sandals!” So Peter did. Then the angel said to him, “Fasten your belt/girdle
{\ADD{around you(sg)}} and put on your sandals!” So Peter did that. Then the angel told him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me!”

\VS{9}So,
{\ADD{after Peter put on his cloak and sandals}}, he followed
{\ADD{the angel}} out
{\ADD{of the prison cell}}, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening. He thought
{\ADD{that he}} was seeing a vision.

\VS{10}Peter and the angel walked by the soldiers who were guarding the two doors,
{\ADD{but the soldiers did not see them. Then}} they came to the iron gate that
{\ADD{led}} out into the city. The gate opened by itself, and Peter and the angel walked out
{\ADD{of the prison}}. After they had walked
{\ADD{a ways}} along one street, the angel suddenly disappeared.

\VS{11}Then Peter
{\ADD{finally}} realized that
{\ADD{what had happened to him was not a vision, but}} it had really happened. So he said
{\ADD{to himself}}, “Now I really know that the Lord
{\ADD{God}} sent an angel
{\ADD{to help me}}. He rescued me from what Herod planned to do [MTY]
{\ADD{to me}}, and
{\ADD{also}} from all the things that the Jewish
{\ADD{leaders}} [SYN] expected
{\ADD{that Herod would do to me}}.”


\par }{\SH Peter reported to the other believers.
\par }
{\SR Acts 12:12-17

\par }{\PP \VS{12}When Peter realized
{\ADD{that God had rescued him}}, he went to Mary’s house. She was the mother of John whose other name was Mark. Many
{\ADD{believers}} had assembled there, and they were praying
{\ADD{that God would help Peter somehow}}.

\VS{13}When Peter knocked at the outer entrance, a servant girl named Rhoda came to find out
{\ADD{who was outside the door}}.

\VS{14}{\ADD{When Peter answered her}}, she recognized his voice, but she was so happy
{\ADD{and excited}} that she did not open the door! Instead, she ran back
{\ADD{into the house}}. She
{\ADD{excitedly}} announced
{\ADD{to the other believers}} that Peter was standing outside the door.

\VS{15}But
{\ADD{one of}} them said to her, “You
{\ADD{(sg)}} are crazy!” But she continued saying that it was
{\ADD{really true. Then}} they repeatedly said, “{\ADD{No}},
{\ADD{it cannot be Peter}}. It is
{\ADD{probably}} the angel
{\ADD{who was guarding}} him
{\ADD{who has come}} (OR, It is the angel
{\ADD{who has guarded/protected}} him,
{\ADD{and he has come to tell us that}} Peter
{\ADD{has died}}.)”

\VS{16}But Peter continued knocking
{\ADD{on the door. So when someone finally}} opened the door, they saw that it was Peter, and they were completely amazed!

\VS{17}Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet. Then he told them exactly how the Lord
{\ADD{God}} had led him out of the prison. He
{\ADD{also}} said, “Tell James, the
{\ADD{leader}} of our
{\ADD{congregation}}, and our
{\ADD{other}} fellow believers what has happened.” Then
{\ADD{Peter left and}} went away to another town.


\par }{\SH Herod commanded soldiers to execute the guards.
\par }
{\SR Acts 12:18-19

\par }{\PP \VS{18}The next morning the soldiers
{\ADD{who had been guarding}} Peter became terribly distressed,
{\ADD{because they did not know}} what had happened to him.

\VS{19}Then Herod
{\ADD{heard about it}}. So he
{\ADD{commanded soldiers}} to search for Peter, but they did not find him. Then he questioned the soldiers
{\ADD{who had been guarding Peter}}, and asked them, “{\ADD{How did Peter get away when you were there guarding him?}}”
{\ADD{But they could not explain it. So}} he commanded them to be led away
{\ADD{to be executed}} $\{${\ADD{other soldiers}} to lead them away
{\ADD{to execute them}}$\}$.
{\ADD{Afterwards}}, Herod went from Judea
{\ADD{province}} down to Caesarea, where he stayed
{\ADD{for some time}}.


\par }{\SH An angel caused Herod to die.
\par }
{\SR Acts 12:20-23

\par }{\PP \VS{20}King Herod had been furiously angry with the people
{\ADD{who lived}} in Tyre and Sidon
{\ADD{cities. Then}} one day some men
{\ADD{who represented them}} came unitedly
{\ADD{to Caesarea in order to meet with}} Herod. They persuaded Blastus, who was one of Herod’s important officials, to tell
{\ADD{Herod}} that the people
{\ADD{in their cities}} wanted to make peace
{\ADD{with him. They wanted to be able to trade with the people that Herod ruled}}, because they needed to buy food from those regions.
{\ADD{Herod had commanded the people in the areas he ruled to stop selling food to the people in those cities}}.

\VS{21}On the day that Herod had planned to
{\ADD{meet with them}}, he put on ◄very expensive clothes that showed that he was king/his royal robes►. Then he sat on his ◄throne/chair from which he ruled
{\ADD{people}}►, and
{\ADD{formally}} addressed
{\ADD{all}} the people
{\ADD{who had gathered there}}.

\VS{22}Those who
{\ADD{were listening to him}} shouted repeatedly, “{\ADD{This man who}} is speaking is a god, not a man!”

\VS{23}So, because Herod
{\ADD{let the people praise him}} instead of praising God, immediately an angel
{\ADD{from}} the Lord
{\ADD{God}} caused Herod to become seriously ill.
{\ADD{Many}} worms ate his intestines, and
{\ADD{soon}} he died
{\ADD{very painfully}}.


\par }{\SH Many people heard God’s message and became believers. Barnabas and Saul returned to Antioch from Jerusalem.
\par }
{\SR Acts 12:24-25

\par }{\PP \VS{24}{\ADD{The believers}} continued telling God’s message to people in many places, and ◄{\ADD{the number of people who believed in Jesus}} was continually increasing/there were continually more and more people who were believing in Jesus►.


\par }{\PP \VS{25}When Barnabas and Saul finished
{\ADD{delivering the money to help the Jewish believers in Judea}}, they left Jerusalem and returned
{\ADD{to Antioch, in Syria province}}. They took John, whose other name was Mark, with them.




\par }\Chap{13}{\SH The Holy Spirit commanded Barnabas and Saul to go on a mission.
\par }
{\SR Acts 13:1-3

\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}Among
{\ADD{the people in}} the congregation at Antioch there were ◄prophets/those who spoke messages from God► and those who taught
{\ADD{people about Jesus. They were}} Barnabas; Simeon, who was also called Niger/Blackman; Lucius, from Cyrene
{\ADD{city}}; Manaen, who had grown up with
{\ADD{King}} Herod
{\ADD{Antipas}}; and Saul.

\VS{2}While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said
{\ADD{to them}}, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul to
{\ADD{serve}} me and to
{\ADD{go and do}} the work that I have chosen them
{\ADD{to do}}!”

\VS{3}So they continued ◄to fast/to abstain from eating food► and pray. Then having put their hands on Barnabas and Saul and
{\ADD{praying that God would help them}}, they sent them off
{\ADD{to do what the Holy Spirit had commanded}}.


\par }{\SH Barnabas and Saul preached the gospel in Jewish meetings place on Cyprus.
\par }
{\SR Acts 13:4-5

\par }{\PP \VS{4}Barnabas and Saul, guided by the Holy Spirit, went down
{\ADD{from Antioch}} to Seleucia
{\ADD{port}}. From there they went by ship to Salamis
{\ADD{port on Cyprus Island}}.

\VS{5}While they were in Salamis,
{\ADD{they went}} to the Jewish meeting places. There they proclaimed the message from God
{\ADD{about Jesus}}. John
{\ADD{Mark went with them and}} was helping them.


\par }{\SH Saul-Paul denounced a sorcerer, and an official believed in Jesus.
\par }
{\SR Acts 13:6-12

\par }{\PP \VS{6}{\ADD{The three of}} them went across the entire island to Paphos
{\ADD{city}}. There they met a magician whose name was Bar-Jesus. He was a Jew who falsely
{\ADD{claimed}} ◄to be a prophet/to speak messages from God►.

\VS{7}He often accompanied the governor
{\ADD{of the island}}, Sergius Paulus, who was an intelligent man. The governor sent
{\ADD{someone}} to ask Barnabas and Saul to come to him, because he wanted to hear God’s message.
{\ADD{So Barnabas and Saul came and told him about Jesus}}.

\VS{8}However, the magician, whose name was Elymas
{\ADD{in the Greek language}}, was opposing them. He repeatedly tried to persuade the governor not to believe
{\ADD{in Jesus}}.

\VS{9}Then Saul, who now called himself Paul, empowered by the Holy Spirit, looked intently at the magician and said,

\VS{10}“You
{\ADD{(sg)}} are serving the devil and you oppose everything that is good! You are always lying
{\ADD{to people}} and doing
{\ADD{other}} evil things to them. ◄You must stop saying that the truth about the Lord
{\ADD{God is a lot of lies!}}/When will you stop changing what is true about the Lord
{\ADD{God and saying}} what is not true about him?► [RHQ]

\VS{11}Right now the Lord
{\ADD{God}} [MTY] is going to punish you! You will become blind and not
{\ADD{even}} be able to see light for
{\ADD{some}} time.” At once he became
{\ADD{blind, as though he was}} in a dark mist, and he groped about, searching for someone
{\ADD{to hold him by the}} hand and lead him.

\VS{12}When the governor saw what had happened
{\ADD{to Elymas}}, he believed
{\ADD{in the Lord Jesus}}. He was amazed by
{\ADD{what Paul and Barnabas}} were teaching about the Lord
{\ADD{Jesus}}.


\par }{\SH The leaders of the Jewish meeting place in Antioch asked Paul and Barnabas to speak to them.
\par }
{\SR Acts 13:13-15

\par }{\PP \VS{13}{\ADD{After that}}, Paul and the two men with him went by ship from Paphos to Perga
{\ADD{port}} in Pamphylia
{\ADD{province. At Perga}} John
{\ADD{Mark}} left them and returned to
{\ADD{his home in}} Jerusalem.

\VS{14}Then Paul and Barnabas traveled
{\ADD{by land}} from Perga, and arrived in Antioch
{\ADD{city}} near Pisidia
{\ADD{district in Galatia province}}. ◄On the Sabbath/On the Jewish rest day► they entered the synagogue/the Jewish meeting place and sat down.

\VS{15}{\ADD{Someone}} read
{\ADD{aloud}} from what
{\ADD{Moses had written. Then someone read from what the other}} prophets
{\ADD{had written}} [MTY]. Then the leaders of the Jewish meeting place gave
{\ADD{someone this}} note
{\ADD{to take}} to Paul and Barnabas: “Fellow Jews, if
{\ADD{one of}} you wants to speak to the people
{\ADD{here}} to encourage them, please speak
{\ADD{to us(exc) now}}.”


\par }{\SH Paul said that God helped Israel and gave them the land of Canaan.
\par }
{\SR Acts 13:16-20

\par }{\PP \VS{16}So Paul stood up and motioned with his right hand
{\ADD{so that the people would listen to him}}. Then he said, “Fellow Israelis and you
{\ADD{non-Jewish people}} who
{\ADD{also}} worship God,
{\ADD{please}} listen
{\ADD{to me}}!

\VS{17}God, whom we
{\ADD{(inc)}} Israelis worship, chose our ancestors
{\ADD{to be his people}}, and he caused them to become very numerous while they were foreigners living in Egypt.
{\ADD{Then after many years}}, God helped them [MTY] powerfully and led them out of there.

\VS{18}{\ADD{Even though they repeatedly disobeyed him, he}} cared for them for about 40 years
{\ADD{while they were}} in the desert.

\VS{19}He
{\ADD{enabled the Israelis}} to conquer seven tribal groups
{\ADD{who were then living}} in Canaan
{\ADD{region}}, and he gave their land to us Israelis for us to possess.

\VS{20}{\ADD{Our ancestors began to possess Canaan}} about 450 years after
{\ADD{their ancestors had arrived in Egypt}}.”

\par }{\SH Paul told about God’s removing Saul and appointing David to be Israel’s king.
\par }
{\SR Acts 13:20b-22

\par }{\PP “After that, God appointed leaders
{\ADD{to rule the Israeli people. Those leaders continued to rule our people}} until the time when the prophet Samuel
{\ADD{ruled them}}.

\VS{21}Then,
{\ADD{while Samuel was still their leader}}, the people demanded that he
{\ADD{appoint}} a king
{\ADD{to rule them. So}} God appointed Saul, the son of Kish, from the tribe of Benjamin,
{\ADD{to be their king}}. He
{\ADD{ruled them}} for 40 years.

\VS{22}After God had rejected Saul
{\ADD{from being king}}, he appointed David to be their king. God said about him, ‘I have observed that David, son of Jesse, is exactly the kind of man that I desire [IDM]. He will do
{\ADD{everything that}} I want
{\ADD{him to do}}.’ ”


\par }{\SH Paul said that God sent David’s descendant, Jesus, to Israel to save them.
\par }
{\SR Acts 13:23-25

\par }{\PP \VS{23}“From
{\ADD{among}} David’s descendants, God brought one of them, Jesus, to
{\ADD{us}} Israeli people to save us, just like he had told
{\ADD{David and our other ancestors}} that he would do.

\VS{24}Before Jesus began his work, John
{\ADD{the Baptizer}} preached to all of our Israeli people
{\ADD{who came to him. He told them}} that they should turn away from their sinful behavior
{\ADD{and ask God to forgive them. Then he}} would baptize them.

\VS{25}When John was about to finish the work
{\ADD{that God gave him to do}}, he frequently said
{\ADD{to the people}}, ‘Do you think [RHQ] that I am
{\ADD{the Messiah whom God promised to send}}? No, I am not. But listen! The Messiah will
{\ADD{soon}} come.
{\ADD{He is so much greater than I am that}} I am not
{\ADD{even}} important enough to be his slave [MET].’ ”


\par }{\SH Paul said that God resurrected Jesus and caused many people to see him.
\par }
{\SR Acts 13:26-31

\par }{\PP \VS{26}“Fellow Israelis, you who are descendants of Abraham, and
{\ADD{you non-Jewish people who}} also worship God,
{\ADD{please listen! It is}} to
{\ADD{all of}} us that
{\ADD{God}} has sent the message about
{\ADD{how he}} saves people.

\VS{27}The people who were living in Jerusalem and their rulers did not realize that this man
{\ADD{Jesus was the one whom God had sent to save them}}. Although messages from [MTY] the prophets have been read
{\ADD{aloud}} $\{$someone has read
{\ADD{aloud}} messages from [MTY] the prophets$\}$ every ◄Sabbath/Jewish day of rest►, they did not understand
{\ADD{what the prophets wrote about the Messiah. So}} the
{\ADD{Jewish leaders}} condemned Jesus
{\ADD{to die}}, which was just like the prophets predicted.

\VS{28}{\ADD{Many people accused Jesus of doing wicked things}}, but they could not prove that he had done anything for which he deserved to die. They insistently asked Pilate
{\ADD{the governor}} to command that Jesus be executed $\{$to command soldiers to execute Jesus$\}$.
{\ADD{So Pilate did what they asked him to do}}.

\VS{29}They did
{\ADD{to Jesus}} all the things that
{\ADD{the prophets long ago had}} written
{\ADD{that people would do to}} him.
{\ADD{They killed Jesus by nailing him to a cross. Then}} his body was taken $\{${\ADD{some people took}} his body$\}$ down from the cross and placed it in a tomb.

\VS{30}However, God ◄raised him from the dead/caused him to live again after he had died►

\VS{31}and for many days he
{\ADD{repeatedly}} appeared to
{\ADD{his followers}} who had come along with him from Galilee
{\ADD{province}} to Jerusalem. Those
{\ADD{who saw him}} are telling the
{\ADD{Jewish}} people about him now.”


\par }{\SH Paul said that God had done what he had promised that he would do by resurrecting Jesus.
\par }
{\SR Acts 13:32-37

\par }{\PP \VS{32}“{\ADD{Right}} now we
{\ADD{two}} are proclaiming to you this good message. We want to tell you that God has fulfilled what he promised to
{\ADD{our Jewish}} ancestors!

\VS{33}He has now done that for us
{\ADD{(inc) who are}} their descendants,
{\ADD{and also for you who are not Jews}}, by causing Jesus to live again. That is just like what
{\ADD{David}} wrote in the second Psalm that
{\ADD{God said when he was sending his Son}},

\par }{\Q You
{\ADD{(sg)}} are my Son;

\par }{\Q Today I have shown everyone
{\ADD{that I really am}} your Father.


\par }{\PP \VS{34}{\ADD{God}} has ◄raised
{\ADD{the Messiah}} from the dead/caused
{\ADD{the Messiah}} to live again after he had died► and will never let him die again.
{\ADD{Concerning that, God}} said
{\ADD{to our Jewish ancestors}}, ‘I will surely help you, as I
{\ADD{promised}} David
{\ADD{that I would do}}.’

\VS{35}So
{\ADD{in writing}} another
{\ADD{Psalm, David}} said this
{\ADD{to God about the Messiah}}: ‘Because I am devoted to you and always obey
{\ADD{you, when I die}} you
{\ADD{(sg)}} will not let my body decay.’

\VS{36}While David was living, he did what God wanted him to do. And when he died [EUP], his
{\ADD{body}} was buried,
{\ADD{as}} his ancestors’
{\ADD{bodies had been buried}}, and his body decayed.
{\ADD{So he could not have been speaking about himself in this Psalm}}.

\VS{37}{\ADD{Instead, he was speaking about Jesus. Jesus also died}}, but God ◄raised him from the dead/caused him to live again►, and
{\ADD{therefore}} his body did not decay.”


\par }{\SH Paul informed them that God would forgive their sins if they believed in Jesus.
\par }
{\SR Acts 13:38-41

\par }{\PP \VS{38-39}“Therefore,
{\ADD{my}} fellow Israelis
{\ADD{and other friends}}, it is important for you to know that
{\ADD{we(exc)}} are declaring to you
{\ADD{that God}} can forgive you for your sins as a result of
{\ADD{what}} Jesus
{\ADD{has done}}. Because of
{\ADD{what}} Jesus
{\ADD{has done}},
{\ADD{God}} considers that everyone who believes
{\ADD{in Jesus}} is no longer guilty (OR, the record has been erased $\{${\ADD{God}} has erased the record$\}$) concerning everything that they
{\ADD{have done that displeased God. But}} when
{\ADD{God}} does
{\ADD{that for you}}, it is not as a result of
{\ADD{your obeying}} the laws
{\ADD{that}} Moses
{\ADD{wrote}}.

\VS{40}Therefore be careful that
{\ADD{God}} does not judge you [MTY], as one of the prophets said [MTY] that God would do!

\VS{41}{\ADD{The prophet wrote that God said}},

\par }{\Q You who ridicule
{\ADD{me}}, you will
{\ADD{certainly}} be astonished
{\ADD{when you see what I am doing}}, and
{\ADD{then}} you will be destroyed. You will be astonished because I will do something
{\ADD{terrible to you}} while you are living. You would not believe
{\ADD{that I would do that}} even though someone told you!”


\par }{\SH People asked Paul and Barnabas to speak to them again the next Jewish day of rest.
\par }
{\SR Acts 13:42-43

\par }{\PP \VS{42}After Paul
{\ADD{finished speaking}}, while he and Barnabas were leaving the Jewish meeting place,
{\ADD{many of}} the people there repeatedly requested that on the next ◄Sabbath/Jewish day of rest►
{\ADD{the two of them}} should speak to them
{\ADD{again}} about those things
{\ADD{that Paul had just told them}}.

\VS{43}After they began to leave
{\ADD{that meeting}}, many
{\ADD{of them}} went along with Paul and Barnabas. They consisted of Jews and also of non-Jews who had accepted the things that the Jews believe. Paul and Barnabas continued talking to them, and were urging them to continue
{\ADD{believing the message that}} God kindly
{\ADD{forgives people’s sins because of what Jesus did}}.


\par }{\SH Many non-Jews believed in Jesus and told others about him.
\par }
{\SR Acts 13:44-49

\par }{\PP \VS{44}On the next Jewish rest day, most of the
{\ADD{people in Antioch came to}} the Jewish meeting place to hear
{\ADD{Paul and Barnabas}} speak about the Lord
{\ADD{Jesus}}.

\VS{45}But
{\ADD{the leaders of}} [SYN] the Jews became extremely jealous, because they saw that large crowds of
{\ADD{non-Jewish people were coming to hear Paul and Barnabas. So}} they began to contradict the things that Paul was saying
{\ADD{and also}} to insult
{\ADD{him}}.

\VS{46}Then, speaking very boldly, Paul and Barnabas said
{\ADD{to those Jewish leaders}}, “{\ADD{We two}} had to speak the message from God
{\ADD{about Jesus}} to you
{\ADD{Jews}} first
{\ADD{before we proclaim it to non-Jews, because God commanded us to do that. But}} you are rejecting God’s message.
{\ADD{By doing that}}, you have shown that you are not worthy ◄to have eternal life/to live eternally
{\ADD{with God}}►.
{\ADD{Therefore}}, we are leaving
{\ADD{you, and now we}} will go to the non-Jewish people
{\ADD{to tell them the message from God}}.

\VS{47}{\ADD{We are doing that also}} because the Lord
{\ADD{God}} has commanded us
{\ADD{to do it}}. He said to us,

\par }{\Q ‘I have appointed you
{\ADD{to reveal things about me}} to non-Jewish people [MET] that will be
{\ADD{like}} a light to them.
{\ADD{I have appointed}} you to tell people everywhere [MTY] in the world
{\ADD{about the one who came}} to save
{\ADD{them}}.’ ”


\par }{\PP \VS{48}While the non-Jewish people were listening
{\ADD{to those words}}, they began to rejoice, and they repeatedly said that the message about the Lord
{\ADD{Jesus}} was wonderful. And all of the non-Jewish people whom
{\ADD{God}} had chosen ◄to have eternal
{\ADD{life/to live eternally with God}}► believed
{\ADD{the message about the Lord Jesus}}.

\VS{49}{\ADD{At that time, many of the believers}} traveled around throughout that region. As they did that, they were proclaiming the message about the Lord
{\ADD{Jesus}} [MTY].


\par }{\SH People expelled the apostles, but the believers continued on.
\par }
{\SR Acts 13:50-52

\par }{\PP \VS{50}However,
{\ADD{some leaders of}} [SYN] the Jews incited the most important men in the city, and
{\ADD{some}} important/influential women who had accepted what the Jews believe, to oppose
{\ADD{Paul and Barnabas. So those non-Jewish people}} incited
{\ADD{other people also}} to persecute Paul and Barnabas. As a result they expelled the two men from their region.

\VS{51}So,
{\ADD{as the two apostles were leaving, they}} shook the dust from their feet
{\ADD{to show those Jewish leaders that God had rejected them and would punish them. They left Antioch}} and went to Iconium
{\ADD{city}}.

\VS{52}Meanwhile, the believers
{\ADD{in Antioch}} continued to rejoice greatly, and they continued to be completely controlled by the Holy Spirit.




\par }\Chap{14}{\SH Paul and Barnabas preached the gospel and performed miracles in Iconium.
\par }
{\SR Acts 14:1-3

\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish meeting place and spoke very convincingly
{\ADD{about the Lord Jesus}}. As a result, many Jews and also non-Jews believed
{\ADD{in Jesus}}.

\VS{2}But
{\ADD{some of}} the Jews refused to believe
{\ADD{that message, and}} told the non-Jews not to believe it. They told the non-Jewish people that the message
{\ADD{about Jesus}} was not true. As a result,
{\ADD{some of}} the non-Jews became angry towards the believers
{\ADD{there}}.

\VS{3}So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there speaking boldly for the Lord, and the Lord Jesus enabled them to do many miracles. In this way he showed
{\ADD{people}} that the message about how the Lord saves us in a way that we do not deserve is true.


\par }{\SH Before people could attack the apostles, they escaped to Lystra and Derbe.
\par }
{\SR Acts 14:4-7

\par }{\PP \VS{4}The people
{\ADD{who lived
}} in
{\ADD{Iconium
}} city strongly disagreed with each other
{\ADD{concerning the message about Jesus}}. Some of them agreed with the Jews [SYN]
{\ADD{who did not believe that message}}. Others agreed with Paul and Barnabas.

\VS{5}Then the non-Jewish people and the Jewish
{\ADD{leaders
}} [SYN]
{\ADD{who opposed those two}} talked among themselves about how they could mistreat them. Some of the important men in that city agreed to help them. Together, they decided that they would
{\ADD{kill Paul and Barnabas by
}} throwing stones at them.

\VS{6}But Paul and Barnabas heard about that, so they quickly went away to Lycaonia
{\ADD{district. They went}} to Lystra and Derbe
{\ADD{cities in that district}} and to the area surrounding
{\ADD{those cities}}.

\VS{7}{\ADD{While they were}} in that area, they continually told people the message
{\ADD{about the Lord Jesus}}.


\par }{\SH God enabled Paul to heal a lame man.
\par }
{\SR Acts 14:8-10

\par }{\PP \VS{8}{\ADD{Once while Paul was preaching to people}} in Lystra, a man was sitting there who was crippled in his legs. When
{\ADD{his mother}} bore him he had crippled legs, so he was never able to walk.

\VS{9}He listened as Paul was speaking
{\ADD{about the Lord Jesus}}. Paul looked directly at him and could see
{\ADD{in the man’s face}} that he believed that
{\ADD{the Lord Jesus}} could make him well.

\VS{10}So Paul called out
{\ADD{to him}}, “Stand up!”
{\ADD{When the man heard that}}, he
{\ADD{immediately}} jumped up and began to walk
{\ADD{normally}}.


\par }{\SH The apostles stopped the people from worshipping them.
\par }
{\SR Acts 14:11-18

\par }{\PP \VS{11}When the crowd saw what Paul had done,
{\ADD{they thought that Paul and Barnabas
}}◄{\ADD{were/must be}}►
{\ADD{the gods that they worshipped}}. So they shouted
{\ADD{excitedly}} in their
{\ADD{own}} Lycaonia language, “{\ADD{Look! These people are}} the gods
{\ADD{that we(inc) worship! They
}}have made themselves look like people and have come down
{\ADD{from the sky/heaven to help us}}!”

\VS{12}They began to say that Barnabas was
{\ADD{probably the chief god, whose name was
}}Zeus. And
{\ADD{they began to say that}} Paul was Hermes,
{\ADD{the messenger/spokesman for the other gods. They mistakenly thought that}} because Paul was the one who had been speaking.

\VS{13}Just outside
{\ADD{the gates of}} the city there was a temple
{\ADD{where the people worshipped Zeus. The priest who was there heard what Paul and Barnabas had done, so he came}} to the city gate, where many people had already gathered. He brought
{\ADD{two
}} bulls with wreaths
{\ADD{of flowers around their necks}}. The priest and the other people wanted to kill the bulls
{\ADD{as part of a ceremony}} to worship Paul and Barnabas.

\VS{14}But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard about that,
{\ADD{and understood that the people thought that they were gods and wanted to sacrifice the bulls to worship them}}, they
{\ADD{were very distressed}}, so they tore their own clothes. They rushed among the people, shouting,

\VS{15}“Men, ◄you must not kill those bulls
{\ADD{to worship us(dl)!}}/why are you doing this?► [RHQ]
{\ADD{We are not gods}}! We are just human beings like you! We have come to tell you some good news!
{\ADD{We have come to tell you about
}}the God who is all-powerful. He wants you to stop worshipping other gods, because they cannot help you. This true God made the heaven/sky and the earth and the oceans and everything in it.

\VS{16}In the past, all of you non-Jewish people
{\ADD{worshipped whatever gods that you wanted to}}. God let you worship them,
{\ADD{because you did not know him}}.

\VS{17}But he has shown us [LIT]
{\ADD{that}} he acts kindly
{\ADD{toward us(inc)}}. He is the one who causes it to rain and causes crops to grow. He is the one who gives you plenty of food, and makes you very happy.”

\VS{18}The people heard what
{\ADD{Paul}} said, but they still thought that they should sacrifice those bulls to worship Paul and Barnabas.
{\ADD{But finally, the people decided not to do it}}.


\par }{\SH Some Jews incited people to stone Paul at Lystra.
\par }
{\SR Acts 14:19-20a

\par }{\PP \VS{19}{\ADD{However}}, after that, some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and persuaded many of the people of Lystra
{\ADD{that the message Paul had been telling them}} was not true. The people
{\ADD{who believed what those Jews said became angry with Paul. They let the Jews}} throw stones at him
{\ADD{until he fell down, unconscious}}. They
{\ADD{all}} thought that he was dead, so they dragged him outside the city
{\ADD{and left him lying there}}. But some of the believers
{\ADD{in Lystra had followed them outside the city}}.

\VS{20}They came and stood around Paul,
{\ADD{where he was lying on the ground}}. And Paul
{\ADD{became conscious! He}} stood up and went back into the city
{\ADD{with the believers}}.

\par }{\SH The apostles revisited believers and appointed leaders.
\par }
{\SR Acts 14:20b-23

\par }{\PP The next day, Paul and Barnabas
{\ADD{left Lystra and}} traveled to Derbe.

\VS{21}They
{\ADD{stayed there several days and they kept telling}} the people the good message
{\ADD{about Jesus}}. Many people became believers. After that, Paul and Barnabas
{\ADD{started on their way back. They}} went again to Lystra.
{\ADD{Then they went from there}} to Iconium, and
{\ADD{then they went}} to Antioch
{\ADD{in Pisidia province}}.

\VS{22}{\ADD{In each city}}, they helped the believers [SYN] to become strong
{\ADD{spiritually}}, and they urged them to keep on trusting in
{\ADD{the Lord Jesus}}. They told
{\ADD{the believers}}, “It is necessary that
{\ADD{we endure}} people often persecuting us
{\ADD{(inc)}} before we enter the place where God will rule
{\ADD{over us forever}}.”

\VS{23}Paul and Barnabas appointed leaders for each congregation.
{\ADD{And before Paul and Barnabas left each town, they gathered the believers together and spent some time}} praying and ◄fasting/not eating any food►. Then Paul and Barnabas entrusted the
{\ADD{leaders and other believers}} to the Lord
{\ADD{Jesus}}, in whom they had believed,
{\ADD{in order that he would care for them}}.


\par }{\SH Paul and Barnabas reported to the believers at Syrian Antioch.
\par }
{\SR Acts 14:24-28

\par }{\PP \VS{24}After Paul and Barnabas had traveled through Pisidia
{\ADD{district}}, they went
{\ADD{south}} to Pamphylia
{\ADD{district}}.

\VS{25}{\ADD{In that district}}, they
{\ADD{arrived}} at Perga and preached God’s message
{\ADD{about the Lord Jesus to the people there. Then}} they went down
{\ADD{to the seacoast}} at Attalia.

\VS{26}There they got on a ship and went back to Antioch
{\ADD{in Syria province}}. That was the place where Paul and Barnabas had been appointed $\{$where
{\ADD{believers}} had sent Paul and Barnabas$\}$ to go
{\ADD{to other places}} and preach.
{\ADD{Antioch was the place where the believers}} had asked God to kindly help Paul and Barnabas in the work that they had now completed.

\VS{27}When they arrived in Antioch, they called the believers together. Then Paul and Barnabas told them all that God had helped them to do.
{\ADD{Specifically, they told them how God}} had enabled [IDM]
{\ADD{many}} non-Jewish people to believe
{\ADD{in Jesus}}.

\VS{28}Then Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch with the
{\ADD{other}} believers for several months.




\par }\Chap{15}{\SH Some Jewish believers said that God will save only people who are circumcised.
\par }
{\SR Acts 15:1-2

\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}{\ADD{Then}} some
{\ADD{Jewish}} believers went down from Judea
{\ADD{province}} to Antioch. They started teaching the
{\ADD{non-Jewish}} believers
{\ADD{there, and said}}, “{\ADD{You}} ◄{\ADD{must}} be circumcised/must have God’s mark put on you►
{\ADD{to indicate you belong to God}}, as Moses
{\ADD{commanded}} in the laws that
{\ADD{he received from God}}. If you do not do that, you will not be saved $\{${\ADD{God}} will not save you$\}$.”

\VS{2}Paul and Barnabas strongly disagreed with those Jews and started arguing
{\ADD{with them. So the believers at Antioch}} appointed Paul and Barnabas and some of the other believers to go to Jerusalem, in order that they would/could discuss this matter with the apostles and
{\ADD{other spiritual}} leaders.


\par }{\SH Paul and Barnabas reported what God had enabled them to do.
\par }
{\SR Acts 15:3-4

\par }{\PP \VS{3}After Paul, Barnabas, and the others were given things for their trip by the congregation
{\ADD{at Antioch}} $\{$After the congregation
{\ADD{at Antioch}} gave Paul, Barnabas, and the others things for their trip$\}$, they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria
{\ADD{provinces. When they stopped at different places in those provinces}}, they reported
{\ADD{to the believers}} that
{\ADD{many}} non-Jews
{\ADD{in Antioch}} had become believers. As a result, all the believers
{\ADD{in those places}} rejoiced greatly.

\VS{4}And when Paul, Barnabas, and the others arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the apostles, the
{\ADD{other}} elders, and the
{\ADD{other members of the}} congregation
{\ADD{there}} $\{$the apostles, the
{\ADD{other}} elders, and the
{\ADD{other members of the}} congregation
{\ADD{there}} welcomed them$\}$. Then Paul and Barnabas reported the things that God had enabled them to do
{\ADD{among non-Jewish people}}.


\par }{\SH Some Jewish believers said that non-Jewish believers must obey Moses’ laws.
\par }
{\SR Acts 15:5

\par }{\PP \VS{5}But some of the
{\ADD{Jewish}} believers who belonged to the Pharisee sect stood up
{\ADD{among the other believers and}} said to them, “The non-Jews
{\ADD{who have believed in Jesus}} must be circumcised, and they must be told to obey the laws
{\ADD{that God gave to}} Moses.”


\par }{\SH Peter told about non-Jews becoming believers when he preached to them.
\par }
{\SR Acts 15:6-11

\par }{\PP \VS{6}Then the apostles and
{\ADD{the other}} elders met together in order to talk about this matter.

\VS{7}After they had discussed it for a long time, Peter stood up and spoke to them. He said, “Fellow believers, you
{\ADD{all}} know that a long time ago God chose me from among you
{\ADD{other apostles, in order that}} the non-Jewish people might
{\ADD{also}} hear me [SYN] tell
{\ADD{them}} the good message
{\ADD{about the Lord Jesus}}, so that they could hear
{\ADD{it}} and believe
{\ADD{in him. So Paul and Barnabas are not the first ones to tell non-Jews about Jesus}}.

\VS{8}God knows
{\ADD{and judges}} people according to what they think,
{\ADD{not according to who their ancestors were}}. By sending the Holy Spirit to
{\ADD{the non-Jews}}, just like
{\ADD{he had}} also done for us
{\ADD{(inc)}} Jews, he showed
{\ADD{me and others}} that he had accepted them
{\ADD{also to be his people}}.

\VS{9}{\ADD{God}} saved us
{\ADD{Jews}} and those
{\ADD{non-Jews}} similarly, making them clean spiritually simply as a result of their believing
{\ADD{in the Lord Jesus. That was exactly how he has forgiven us}}.

\VS{10}{\ADD{You are wanting to force the non-Jewish believers to obey our Jewish rituals and laws}}—laws that God has shown that he does not require them to obey [MET].
{\ADD{Your doing that is like}} putting a heavy burden on them! So then, ◄stop making God angry by doing that!/why are you making God angry by doing that?► [RHQ] Our ancestors and we
{\ADD{(inc) Jews}} have never been able to bear
{\ADD{the burden of obeying those laws}}!

\VS{11}But we
{\ADD{(inc) know that it is not because}} we
{\ADD{(inc) try to obey those laws that God saves us(inc) Jews. On the contrary}}, we
{\ADD{(inc)}} know that it is because of what the Lord Jesus did for us
{\ADD{(inc)}} that we did not deserve that we
{\ADD{(inc)}} are saved $\{$that
{\ADD{God}} saves us$\}$
{\ADD{from the guilt of our sins. God saves non-Jews who believe in the Lord Jesus}} exactly like
{\ADD{he saves}} us Jews.”


\par }{\SH Barnabas and Paul reported what God had helped them to do among the non-Jews.
\par }
{\SR Acts 15:12

\par }{\PP \VS{12}All the people
{\ADD{there}} became silent
{\ADD{after Peter had spoken}}. Then they
{\ADD{all}} listened to Barnabas and Paul,
{\ADD{as the two of}} them told about the many great miracles that God had enabled them to do among the non-Jewish people,
{\ADD{miracles that showed that God had accepted the non-Jews}}.


\par }{\SH James recommended what they should tell the non-Jewish believers.
\par }
{\SR Acts 15:13-21

\par }{\PP \VS{13}When Barnabas and Paul had finished speaking, James,
{\ADD{the leader of the group of believers there in Jerusalem}}, spoke to all of them.
{\ADD{He said}}, “Fellow believers, listen to me.

\VS{14}Simon
{\ADD{Peter}} has told you how God previously blessed the non-Jews. God did that by choosing from among them a people who would belong to him [MTY].

\VS{15}{\ADD{These}} words that
{\ADD{God spoke}}, words that were written by
{\ADD{one of}} the prophets $\{$that one of the prophets wrote$\}$
{\ADD{long ago}}, agree with that:


\par }{\PI \VS{16}Later on I will return and I will re-establish the kingdom [MET] that David
{\ADD{ruled}} and that has been $\{$that
{\ADD{people}} have$\}$ destroyed. My
{\ADD{doing that will be like}} rebuilding
{\ADD{a house}} that has been $\{$that
{\ADD{people}} have$\}$ torn down.

\VS{17}I will do that in order that all other people might seek
{\ADD{me}}, the Lord
{\ADD{God. I will do that in order that}} all the non-Jews whom I have called
{\ADD{to belong}} to me [MTY] might seek me.
{\ADD{You can be certain that this will happen because I}} the Lord
{\ADD{God}}, who will do those things, have spoken
{\ADD{these words}}.

\VS{18}I
{\ADD{caused my people to know about them}} long ago.”


\par }{\PP \VS{19}{\ADD{James continued by saying}}, “Therefore I have decided
{\ADD{that we(inc)}} should stop bothering the non-Jewish people who are turning
{\ADD{away from their sins and turning}} to God.
{\ADD{That is, we should stop demanding that they obey}} all
{\ADD{our laws}} and rituals.

\VS{20}Instead, we should write
{\ADD{a letter}} to them
{\ADD{requiring only four things: They should}} not eat
{\ADD{meat/food that people}} have offered to idols, they should not have sex with someone to whom they are not married, they should not
{\ADD{eat meat from animals that have been killed by}} being strangled $\{${\ADD{people have strangled}}$\}$, and
{\ADD{they should not eat}} the blood
{\ADD{of animals}}.

\VS{21}In many cities, for a very long time people have been proclaiming
{\ADD{the laws that}} Moses
{\ADD{wrote}} [MTY],
{\ADD{laws prohibiting those things}}. And every ◄Sabbath/Jewish day of rest►
{\ADD{those laws}} are read $\{$someone reads
{\ADD{those laws}}$\}$ in the Jewish meeting places.
{\ADD{So if the non-Jews want to know more about those laws, they can find out in our meeting houses}}.”


\par }{\SH The church leaders sent messengers with a letter to non-Jewish believers.
\par }
{\SR Acts 15:22-29

\par }{\PP \VS{22}The apostles and the
{\ADD{other}} elders, along with all the
{\ADD{other}} members of the congregation, accepted
{\ADD{what James had said}}. Then they decided that they should choose men from among themselves and that they should send them, along with Paul and Barnabas, to Antioch, to
{\ADD{let the believers there know what the leaders}} at Jerusalem had decided. So they chose Judas, who was also called Barsabbas, and Silas, who were leaders among the believers
{\ADD{at Jerusalem}}.

\VS{23}Then they wrote the following letter
{\ADD{that they asked Judas and Silas to take to the believers at Antioch}}:

\par }{\LI “{\ADD{We(exc)}} apostles and
{\ADD{other}} leaders who are your fellow believers
{\ADD{send our greetings to you as we write this to you}} non-Jewish believers
{\ADD{who live}} in Antioch and
{\ADD{other places in}} Syria and Cilicia
{\ADD{provinces}}.

\VS{24}People have told us that some men from among us went
{\ADD{to you}}, although we had not told
{\ADD{them to do that}}. They troubled/distressed you [SYN]
{\ADD{by telling you things}} that confused your thinking.

\VS{25}So
{\ADD{while we(exc) met together here}}, we decided to choose some men and ask them to go to you, along with Barnabas and Paul, whom we
{\ADD{(exc)}} love very much.

\VS{26}Those two have put their lives in danger because of their
{\ADD{serving}} our Lord [MTY] Jesus Christ.

\VS{27}We
{\ADD{(exc) have also chosen}} Judas and Silas to go to you. They will tell you the same things
{\ADD{that we are writing}}.

\VS{28}The Holy Spirit and
{\ADD{also}} we decided that you should not be required $\{$that we should not require you$\}$ to obey a lot of burdensome
{\ADD{Jewish}} laws. Instead,
{\ADD{we}} only
{\ADD{require you to obey}} the following instructions,


\par }{\QB \VS{29}You should not eat food that people have sacrificed to idols.

\par }{\QB You should not eat blood from animals, and you should not eat meat from animals that people have killed by strangling them.

\par }{\QB Also, you should not have sex with someone to whom you are not married.

\par }{\PP Those things
{\ADD{especially offend Jewish believers. So if}} you avoid doing them, you will be doing what is right. That is all.”


\par }{\SH The letter and messengers encouraged the believers at Antioch.
\par }
{\SR Acts 15:30-32

\par }{\PP \VS{30}The
{\ADD{four}} men whom
{\ADD{they}} had chosen went
{\ADD{from Jerusalem}} to Antioch
{\ADD{city. When}} all the believers
{\ADD{there}} had assembled together,
{\ADD{Judas and Silas}} gave the letter to them.

\VS{31}When the believers there read the letter, they rejoiced,
{\ADD{because its message}} encouraged them.

\VS{32}{\ADD{Just like Paul and Barnabas were}} ◄{\ADD{prophets/men who spoke messages from God}}►, Judas and Silas were also prophets. They spoke for a long time and encouraged the believers
{\ADD{there}}, and helped them to trust more strongly
{\ADD{in the Lord Jesus}}.


\par }{\SH Paul and Barnabas continued to teach and preach in Antioch.
\par }
{\SR Acts 15:33-35

\par }{\PP \VS{33-34}After
{\ADD{Judas and Silas
}} had stayed in Antioch for some time
{\ADD{and were ready to return to Jerusalem}}, the believers
{\ADD{there}} wished them well, and the believers
{\ADD{prayed that God
}} would protect
{\ADD{them as they traveled. So the two men
}} started to go back to the leaders
{\ADD{in Jerusalem
}} who had asked them to go
{\ADD{to Antioch}}.\FTNT{*}{{\FR 15:33-34 }{\FQA{just before they left}}{\FT{, Silas decided to stay there
}}{\FQA{in Antioch}}{\FT{.” Each translator should choose between this text and the implied information that we have given in verse 40. Each should choose the way to translate that seems the most preferable.}}}

\VS{35}However, Paul and Barnabas continued to stay in Antioch.
{\ADD{While they were there}}, they, along with many others, were teaching
{\ADD{people}} and preaching to them the message about the Lord
{\ADD{Jesus}}.


\par }{\SH Paul and Barnabas separated, and Paul chose Silas.
\par }
{\SR Acts 15:36-41

\par }{\PP \VS{36}After some time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit the fellow believers in every city where we
{\ADD{previously}} proclaimed the message about the Lord
{\ADD{Jesus. In that way, we will know}} how
{\ADD{well}} they are continuing
{\ADD{to believe in the Lord Jesus}}.”

\VS{37}Barnabas
{\ADD{agreed with Paul, and said that he}} wanted to take John, whose other name was Mark, along with them
{\ADD{again}}.

\VS{38}However, Paul
{\ADD{told Barnabas that he}} thought that it would not be good to take Mark
{\ADD{with them, because}} Mark had deserted them when they were previously in Pamphylia
{\ADD{region}}, and had not continued to work with them.

\VS{39}Paul and Barnabas strongly disagreed
{\ADD{with each other about that}}, so they separated. Barnabas took Mark
{\ADD{along with him and they got}} on a ship and went to Cyprus.

\VS{40}Paul chose Silas,
{\ADD{who had returned to Antioch, to work with him}}. The believers
{\ADD{there}} asked the Lord
{\ADD{God}} to graciously help
{\ADD{Paul and Silas. Then}} the two of them departed
{\ADD{from Antioch}}.

\VS{41}Paul continued traveling
{\ADD{with Silas}} through Syria and Cilicia
{\ADD{provinces}}. In those places he was helping the congregations to trust strongly
{\ADD{in the Lord Jesus}}.




\par }\Chap{16}{\SH Paul chose Timothy to work with him and Silas.
\par }
{\SR Acts 16:1-3

\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}Paul
{\ADD{and Silas
}}went to Derbe
{\ADD{city and visited the believers there}}. Next
{\ADD{they went to}} Lystra
{\ADD{city}}. A believer whose name was Timothy lived there. His mother was a Jewish believer, but his father was a Greek.

\VS{2}The believers in Lystra and Iconium said good things about Timothy,

\VS{3}and Paul wanted to take Timothy with him
{\ADD{when he went}} to other places, so he circumcised Timothy.
{\ADD{He did that so that}} the Jews who lived in those places
{\ADD{would accept Timothy}}, because they knew that his non-Jewish father
{\ADD{had not allowed him to be circumcised}} $\{${\ADD{anyone to circumcise his son}}$\}$.


\par }{\SH Paul, Silas and Timothy told believers in Galatia what the church leaders had decided.
\par }
{\SR Acts 16:4-5

\par }{\PP \VS{4}{\ADD{So Timothy went with Paul and Silas}} and they traveled to many other towns.
{\ADD{In each town}} they told
{\ADD{the}} believers the rules that had been decided by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem $\{$that the apostles and elders in Jerusalem had decided$\}$ that
{\ADD{non-Jewish}} believers should obey.


\par }{\PP \VS{5}{\ADD{God was helping}} the believers in those towns to trust more strongly
{\ADD{in the Lord Jesus}}, and every day more people became believers.


\par }{\SH Because of a vision in Troas, Paul went to preach in Macedonia.
\par }
{\SR Acts 16:6-10

\par }{\PP \VS{6}Paul and his companions wanted/planned to enter Asia
{\ADD{province
}}and preach the message
{\ADD{about Jesus}} there, but they were prevented by the Holy Spirit $\{$the Holy Spirit prevented them$\}$
{\ADD{from going there. So}} they traveled through Phrygia and Galatia
{\ADD{provinces}}.

\VS{7}They arrived at the border of Mysia
{\ADD{province}} and they wanted to go
{\ADD{north
}}into Bithynia
{\ADD{province}}. But
{\ADD{again}} the Spirit of Jesus showed them that they should not
{\ADD{go there}}.

\VS{8}So they went through Mysia
{\ADD{province}} and arrived at Troas, a
{\ADD{port city. I, Luke, joined them there}}.

\VS{9}That night
{\ADD{God gave
}} Paul a vision in which he saw a man
{\ADD{who was a native}} of Macedonia
{\ADD{province}}. He was standing
{\ADD{some distance away}}, and he was earnestly calling to Paul, “{\ADD{Please}} come over
{\ADD{here}} to Macedonia and help us!”

\VS{10}{\ADD{The next morning}} we
{\ADD{(exc)}} immediately got ready to go to Macedonia, because we believed that God had called us to
{\ADD{go and}} preach the good message to the people there.


\par }{\SH Paul’s company went from Troas to Philippi.
\par }
{\SR Acts 16:11-12

\par }{\PP \VS{11}So we
{\ADD{(exc)}} got on a ship in Troas and sailed across
{\ADD{the sea
}}to Samothrace
{\ADD{Island. We spent the night there}}, and the next day
{\ADD{we sailed again across the sea and arrived}} at Neapolis
{\ADD{port/town}}.

\VS{12}Then we
{\ADD{left Neapolis and}} went
{\ADD{by land}} to Philippi. It was a very important city in Macedonia
{\ADD{province, where many}} Roman citizens lived. We stayed in Philippi several days.


\par }{\SH Paul preached the gospel and Lydia became a believer.
\par }
{\SR Acts 16:13-15

\par }{\PP \VS{13}On the first ◄Sabbath/Jewish day of rest►
{\ADD{after we(exc) arrived}}, we went outside the city gate
{\ADD{down}} to the river. We had heard
{\ADD{someone say}} that
{\ADD{Jewish}} people gathered to pray there.
{\ADD{When we arrived there, we saw}} some women who had gathered
{\ADD{to pray}}. So we sat down and began to tell them
{\ADD{the message about Jesus}}.

\VS{14}A woman whose name was Lydia was one of those who were listening
{\ADD{to Paul. She was a non-Jewish woman}}, from Thyatira
{\ADD{city, who bought and}} sold
{\ADD{expensive}} purple cloth. She had accepted what the Jews believe about God. The Lord
{\ADD{God}} caused her to pay attention to the message that Paul preached, and she believed it.
{\ADD{The members of her household also heard the good message and believed in Jesus}} [MTY].

\VS{15}After
{\ADD{Paul and Silas}} baptized Lydia and the others who lived in her house [MTY] $\{$After Lydia and the others who lived in her house were baptized$\}$, she invited us to
{\ADD{go and stay in
}} her home. She said, “You
{\ADD{(pl)}} know that I
{\ADD{now}} believe in the Lord
{\ADD{Jesus}}, so
{\ADD{please}} come and stay in my house.” She persuaded us
{\ADD{to do that, so we(exc) stayed there}}.


\par }{\SH Paul expelled a demon from a slave girl, so officials imprisoned Paul and Silas.
\par }
{\SR Acts 16:16-24

\par }{\PP \VS{16}Another day, while we
{\ADD{(exc)}} were going to the place where people regularly gathered to pray, we met a young woman who was a slave. An evil spirit was enabling her to be a ventriloquist and to tell people what would happen
{\ADD{to them}}. People paid a lot of money to
{\ADD{the men who were}} her owners, in return for her telling them things that
{\ADD{she said}} would happen
{\ADD{to them}}.

\VS{17}This young woman followed Paul and the rest of us. She continually shouted, “These men serve the God who is the greatest
{\ADD{of all gods}}! They are telling you how ◄{\ADD{God}} can save you
{\ADD{so that he will not punish you/to be}} saved►”

\VS{18}She continued to do that for many days. Finally Paul became irritated. So he turned
{\ADD{toward the young woman}} and rebuked the evil spirit
{\ADD{that was in her. He said}}, “By the authority [MTY] of Jesus Christ, I command you
{\ADD{(sg)}} to come out of this young woman!” Right away the evil spirit left her.

\VS{19}And then her owners realized that she could no longer earn money for them
{\ADD{because she could no longer predict what would happen to people, so they were angry}}. They grabbed Paul and Silas and forcefully took them to the public square, to
{\ADD{the place where}} the government authorities and
{\ADD{a lot of other people were gathered}}.

\VS{20}The owners
{\ADD{of the young woman}} brought Paul and Silas to the city officials and told them, “These men are Jews, and they are greatly troubling
{\ADD{the people in}} [MTY] our city.

\VS{21}They are teaching that we
{\ADD{(inc)}} should follow customs that our laws do not allow us Romans to consider
{\ADD{to be correct}} or to obey!”

\VS{22}Many of the crowd joined
{\ADD{those who were accusing}} Paul and Silas, and started beating them. Then the
{\ADD{Roman}} authorities commanded
{\ADD{soldiers}} to tear the shirts off Paul and Silas and to beat them
{\ADD{with rods/sticks}}.

\VS{23}{\ADD{So the soldiers}} beat Paul and Silas vigorously
{\ADD{with rods}}. After that, they
{\ADD{took them and}} shoved them into the prison. They told the jailer that he should lock them up securely.

\VS{24}{\ADD{Because the officials}} had
{\ADD{commanded}} him
{\ADD{to do that}}, the jailer shoved Paul and Silas into the cell that was farthest inside.
{\ADD{There, he made them sit down on the floor/ground and stretch out their legs}}. Then he fastened their ankles in
{\ADD{grooves}} between two large wooden beams,
{\ADD{so that Paul and Silas could not move their legs}}.


\par }{\SH Paul and Silas helped the jailer and his household to become believers.
\par }
{\SR Acts 16:25-34

\par }{\PP \VS{25}About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying
{\ADD{aloud}} and praising God by singing hymns. The
{\ADD{other}} prisoners were listening attentively to them.

\VS{26}Suddenly there was a very strong earthquake. It shook the entire jail [SYN] and its foundation [SYN].
{\ADD{The earthquake caused}} all the doors
{\ADD{of the jail}} to open suddenly, and
{\ADD{caused}} all the chains that fastened the prisoners to fall off.

\VS{27}The jailer woke up and saw that the doors of the jail were open. He thought that the prisoners had escaped. So he pulled out his sword in order to kill himself,
{\ADD{because he knew that the officials would kill him if the prisoners escaped}}.

\VS{28}Paul
{\ADD{saw the jailer and}} shouted to him, “Do not harm yourself! We
{\ADD{(exc) prisoners}} are all here!”

\VS{29}The jailer shouted
{\ADD{to someone}} to bring torches/lanterns,
{\ADD{and after they brought them}}, he rushed into the jail and knelt down in front of Paul and Silas.
{\ADD{He was very afraid, so}} much so that he was trembling/shaking.

\VS{30}Then he brought Paul and Silas out
{\ADD{of the jail}} and asked: “Sirs, what do I need to do to be saved
{\ADD{from being punished for my sins}}?”

\VS{31}{\ADD{They answered}}, “Trust in
{\ADD{what}} the Lord Jesus
{\ADD{has done for you}}, and you will be saved $\{${\ADD{God}} will save you$\}$, and the others who live in [MTY] your house will
{\ADD{also}} be saved
{\ADD{if they believe in Jesus}}.”


\par }{\PP \VS{32-34}Then the jailer took Paul and Silas into his house, washed their wounds, and gave them a meal.
{\ADD{He woke up all the people in his house, and}} Paul and Silas told all of them the message about the Lord
{\ADD{Jesus. They all believed in him}}. Immediately
{\ADD{after that, the jailer and all his family were baptized}} $\{${\ADD{Paul and Silas}} baptized the jailer and all his family$\}$. They were very happy, because now they all believed in God.


\par }{\SH Paul and Silas encouraged the believers and then left Philippi.
\par }
{\SR Acts 16:35-40

\par }{\PP \VS{35}The next morning, the
{\ADD{Roman}} officials commanded
{\ADD{some}} police officers
{\ADD{to go to the jail to say to the jailer}}, “{\ADD{Our bosses}} say, ‘Let those
{\ADD{two}} prisoners go
{\ADD{now}}!’ ”

\VS{36}{\ADD{After the officers went and told that to}} the jailer, he
{\ADD{went and}} told Paul, “The
{\ADD{Roman}} authorities have sent a message
{\ADD{(sg)}} saying that I should release you
{\ADD{(sg)}} and Silas
{\ADD{from prison}}. So you
{\ADD{two}} can leave
{\ADD{the jail}} now. Now you can go peacefully!”

\VS{37}But Paul said to the police officers, “The authorities
{\ADD{commanded men to}} beat us in front of a crowd before
{\ADD{those authorities}} had learned if we
{\ADD{(exc)}} had done anything wrong! Then they
{\ADD{ordered men to}} shove us into jail!
{\ADD{But that was not legal, because}} we
{\ADD{(exc)}} are Roman citizens! And now they want [RHQ] to send us away secretly! We will not accept that! Those
{\ADD{Roman}} officials must come themselves and
{\ADD{tell us that they are sorry}}, and take us out
{\ADD{of jail}}.”

\VS{38}So the police officers
{\ADD{went and}} told the city authorities
{\ADD{what Paul had said}}. When those authorities heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were afraid
{\ADD{that someone would report to more important officials what they had done, and as a result they would be punished}} $\{${\ADD{those officials would punish them}}$\}$.

\VS{39}So the city authorities came to Paul and Silas and told them that they were sorry for what they had done to them. The authorities brought them out of the jail, and repeatedly asked them to leave the city
{\ADD{soon}}.

\VS{40}After Paul and Silas left the jail, they went to Lydia’s house. There they met with her and the
{\ADD{other}} believers. They encouraged the believers
{\ADD{to continue trusting in the Lord Jesus}}, and then the two apostles left
{\ADD{Philippi}}.




\par }\Chap{17}{\SH In Thessalonica, Paul convinced many people that Jesus is the Messiah.
\par }
{\SR Acts 17:1-4

\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}Paul and Silas traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia
{\ADD{towns}} and arrived at Thessalonica
{\ADD{city}}. There was a Jewish meeting place there.

\VS{2}◄On the Sabbath/On the Jewish rest day► Paul went into the meeting house, as he usually did. For three weeks
{\ADD{he went there}} on each Jewish day of rest. Referring to the Scriptures
{\ADD{about the Messiah}}, he spoke to the people who were there.

\VS{3}He explained and showed that
{\ADD{the prophets wrote that}} the Messiah needed to die and ◄to become alive again/to be raised from the dead
{\ADD{afterwards}}►. He told them: “This man Jesus, whom I am telling you about, is our Messiah.
{\ADD{He died and became alive again, just like the prophets predicted}}.”

\VS{4}Some of the Jews
{\ADD{there}} were persuaded by $\{$believed$\}$
{\ADD{what Paul had said}} and began to associate with Paul and Silas. There were also many non-Jewish people there who worshipped God and many important women
{\ADD{who also believed the message about Jesus}}, and they began to associate with Paul and Silas.


\par }{\SH Some Jews there incited people to oppose Paul and Silas.
\par }
{\SR Acts 17:5-9

\par }{\PP \VS{5}But
{\ADD{some leaders of}} the Jews there in Thessalonica became jealous
{\ADD{because many people believed what Paul taught}}. So they went to the public square and persuaded some lazy men
{\ADD{who were loitering there}} to follow them.
{\ADD{In this way, the leaders of}} the Jews gathered a crowd and incited them to become noisy and start a riot
{\ADD{against Paul and Silas}}. Those
{\ADD{Jews and others}} ran to the house of
{\ADD{a man named}} Jason.
{\ADD{He was the man who had invited Paul and Silas to stay at his house}}. They wanted to bring Paul and Silas outside to where the crowd
{\ADD{of people was waiting}}.

\VS{6}They discovered that Paul and Silas were not there, but they found Jason
{\ADD{and grabbed him}}. They dragged him and some of the
{\ADD{other}} believers to where the city officials/authorities and
{\ADD{many other people were gathered}}. The men
{\ADD{who had brought Jason}} shouted, “Those
{\ADD{two}} men have caused trouble [IDM] everywhere [HYP]
{\ADD{they have gone}}. Now they have come to our city,

\VS{7}and
{\ADD{this fellow}} Jason invited them to stay at his house. All the people
{\ADD{of this sect}} oppose what our Emperor has decreed. They say that another person, whose name is Jesus, is
{\ADD{the real}} king!”

\VS{8}When the crowd of people
{\ADD{that had gathered}} and the city authorities heard that, they became very angry and excited.

\VS{9}{\ADD{They wanted to put the believers in jail. But instead}}, the officials made Jason and the other
{\ADD{believers}} pay a fine and told them that they
{\ADD{would give the money back to them if Paul and Silas did not cause any more trouble}}. Then the authorities let Jason and those other believers go.


\par }{\SH In Berea, Paul helped many Jews and non-Jews to believe in Jesus.
\par }
{\SR Acts 17:10-12

\par }{\PP \VS{10}{\ADD{So}} that same night, the believers sent Paul and Silas
{\ADD{out of Thessalonica}} to Berea
{\ADD{town}}. When Paul and Silas arrived there, they went to the Jewish meeting place,
{\ADD{on a day when people had gathered there}}.

\VS{11}The
{\ADD{Jews}} in Thessalonica had not been very willing to listen to God’s message, but the
{\ADD{Jews}} who lived in Berea were very willing to listen, so they listened very eagerly to the message
{\ADD{about Jesus}}. Every day they read the Scriptures
{\ADD{for themselves}} to find out if what Paul said
{\ADD{about the Messiah}} was true.

\VS{12}As a result, many of the Jewish people believed
{\ADD{in Jesus}}, and also some of the important non-Jewish women and many non-Jewish men
{\ADD{believed in him}}.


\par }{\SH Jews from Thessalonica incited people to oppose Paul.
\par }
{\SR Acts 17:13-15

\par }{\PP \VS{13}But then the Jews in Thessalonica heard
{\ADD{people tell them}} that Paul
{\ADD{was}} in Berea and that he was preaching the message from God
{\ADD{about Jesus}}. So they went to Berea and
{\ADD{told people there that what Paul was teaching was not true. Thus}}, they caused many of those people to get angry
{\ADD{at Paul}}.

\VS{14}So
{\ADD{several of}} the believers
{\ADD{in Berea}} took Paul to the coast
{\ADD{to go to another province}}. But Silas and Timothy stayed in Berea.

\VS{15}When Paul and the other men from Berea
{\ADD{arrived at the coast, they got on a ship and}} went to Athens
{\ADD{city}}. Then Paul said
{\ADD{to the men who had come with him}}, “Tell Silas and Timothy to come to me
{\ADD{here in Athens}} as soon as they can.” Then those men left
{\ADD{Athens and returned to Berea}}.


\par }{\SH In Athens, idols distressed Paul, so he talked to many people about Jesus.
\par }
{\SR Acts 17:16-17

\par }{\PP \VS{16}In Athens, Paul waited for Silas and Timothy
{\ADD{to arrive. In the meantime, he walked around in the city. He}} became very distressed/disturbed because he saw that throughout [HYP] the city there were many idols.

\VS{17}So he went to the Jewish meeting place and talked
{\ADD{about Jesus}} with the Jews, and also with the Greeks who had accepted what the Jews believe. He also went to the public square/center every day and talked to the people
{\ADD{whom he met}} there.


\par }{\SH When Paul talked about Jesus, he perplexed some teachers.
\par }
{\SR Acts 17:18

\par }{\PP \VS{18}Paul met some teachers who liked to talk about what people should believe.
{\ADD{People called}} some of them Epicureans and
{\ADD{they called}} others Stoics. They told Paul
{\ADD{what they believed}}, and they asked him
{\ADD{what he believed. Then}} some of them said
{\ADD{to one another}}, “This ignorant person is just talking nonsense [RHQ]!” Others said, “{\ADD{We(exc) think}} that he is teaching people about ◄foreign gods/{\ADD{new}} gods that we
{\ADD{(exc)}} have not heard about►.” They said that because Paul was telling them that Jesus
{\ADD{had died and}} had become alive again
{\ADD{afterwards. They had not heard that message before}}.


\par }{\SH Athens Council members asked Paul to explain what he had been teaching.
\par }
{\SR Acts 17:19-21

\par }{\PP \VS{19}So they took Paul to the place where the city council met.
{\ADD{When they arrived}} there, they said to Paul, “{\ADD{Please}} tell us, what is this new message that you
{\ADD{(sg)}} are teaching people?

\VS{20}You are teaching some things that startle us
{\ADD{(exc)}}, so we want to know what they mean.”

\VS{21}{\ADD{They said that, because}} the people of Athens and also the people from other regions who lived there continually talked about what was new
{\ADD{to them}}, or they listened to
{\ADD{others tell}} what was new.


\par }{\SH Paul told them about the God whom they did not know.
\par }
{\SR Acts 17:22-31

\par }{\PP \VS{22}Then Paul stood up before the men of the city council and said, “Citizens of Athens, I see that you ◄are very religious/think that it is very important to worship many gods►.

\VS{23}I
{\ADD{say that}} because, while I was walking along and observing the objects
{\ADD{that represent different gods that}} you worship, I even saw an altar that had these words
{\ADD{that someone had}} carved
{\ADD{on it: THIS HONORS}} THE GOD
{\ADD{THAT WE(exc)}} DO NOT KNOW. So now I will tell you about
{\ADD{that God}} whom you worship but you do not know.


\par }{\PP \VS{24}He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Because he rules over all
{\ADD{beings in}} heaven and
{\ADD{on}} earth, he does not dwell in shrines that people have made.

\VS{25}He does not need to have anything made for him by people [MTY] $\{$to have people [MTY] make [MTY] anything for him$\}$, because everything that exists belongs to him. He is the one who causes ◄us
{\ADD{(inc)}}/all people► to live and breathe, and
{\ADD{he gives us}} all the things
{\ADD{that we(inc) need}}.


\par }{\PP \VS{26}{\ADD{In the beginning}}, God created one couple, and from them God produced all ◄the ethnic groups/the nations► that now live everywhere on the earth. He also decided where each ethnic group of people should live and how long they should live
{\ADD{there}}.

\VS{27}He wanted people to realize that they need him. Then maybe they would seek him and find him.
{\ADD{God wants us to seek him}}, although he is
{\ADD{really}} close [LIT] to each one of us.

\VS{28}As someone has said, ‘{\ADD{It is only}} because he enables us that we
{\ADD{(inc)}} live and move and do
{\ADD{what we do}}.’ And, as some of your own poets have said, ‘We
{\ADD{(inc)}} are God’s children.’


\par }{\PP \VS{29}Therefore, because we are God’s children
{\ADD{and can communicate like God does}}, we
{\ADD{(inc)}} should not think that he is anything like an image
{\ADD{that people have made}} of gold or silver or stone
{\ADD{which cannot communicate}}. Those images are designed and skillfully made $\{$People design and make those images$\}$,
{\ADD{but they are not alive}}.

\VS{30}During the times when people did not know
{\ADD{what God wanted them to do}}, he did not
{\ADD{immediately}} punish
{\ADD{them for what they did}}. But now God commands all people everywhere to turn away from their evil behavior.

\VS{31}{\ADD{He tells us}} that on a certain day that he has chosen he is going to judge
{\ADD{all of us(inc) people in}} [MTY] the world. He has appointed a
{\ADD{certain}} man to judge
{\ADD{us, and that man will judge each of us}} fairly/justly. God has shown to all
{\ADD{people that he has appointed that man to judge everyone}}, because God ◄caused him to become alive again after he had died/raised him from the dead►.”


\par }{\SH Some Council members believed in Jesus.
\par }
{\SR Acts 17:32-34

\par }{\PP \VS{32}When the men of the council heard
{\ADD{Paul say}} that ◄{\ADD{a man}} had become alive again after he had died/{\ADD{someone}} had been raised from the dead►, some of them laughed scornfully. But others said, “We
{\ADD{(exc)}} would like you
{\ADD{(sg)}} to tell us more about this, some other time.”

\VS{33}After they said that, Paul left the council
{\ADD{meeting}}.

\VS{34}However, some of the people there went along with Paul and became believers. Among those
{\ADD{who believed in Jesus}} was a member of the council whose
{\ADD{name was}} Dionysius. Also, an
{\ADD{important}} woman whose name was Damaris and some other people
{\ADD{who had heard Paul’s message also believed in Jesus}}.




\par }\Chap{18}{\SH In Corinth, Paul helped many people to become believers.
\par }
{\SR Acts 18:1-4

\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}After that, Paul left Athens
{\ADD{city}} and went to Corinth
{\ADD{city}}.

\VS{2}There he met a Jew whose name was Aquila, who grew up in Pontus
{\ADD{province}}. Aquila and his wife Priscilla had recently come from
{\ADD{Rome, in}} Italy.
{\ADD{They had previously left Rome}} because Claudius,
{\ADD{the Roman Emperor}}, had ordered that all the Jews must leave Rome. Paul later went to see Aquila and Priscilla.

\VS{3}Those two made tents
{\ADD{to earn}} ◄{\ADD{money/a living}}►. Paul also made tents, so he stayed with them, and they all worked together.

\VS{4}Every Sabbath, Paul
{\ADD{went}} to the Jewish meeting place, where he spoke forcefully to both Jews and non-Jews. He repeatedly tried to persuade them
{\ADD{that Jesus is the Messiah}}.


\par }{\SH Paul helped many non-Jews become believers.
\par }
{\SR Acts 18:5-8

\par }{\PP \VS{5}Then Silas and Timothy arrived there from Macedonia province. After they arrived, Paul
{\ADD{did not make tents any more. He}} used all his time preaching
{\ADD{the message about Jesus in the Jewish meeting place}}. He continued to tell the Jews
{\ADD{that}} the Messiah they had been waiting for was Jesus.

\VS{6}But the Jews began to oppose Paul and to say evil things about him. So he shook
{\ADD{the dust from}} his clothes
{\ADD{to show them that they were displeasing God. Then}} he said to them, “If God punishes you, it will be your [SYN] own fault [MTY], not mine! From now on I will go
{\ADD{and preach}} to non-Jewish people!”

\VS{7}So Paul left
{\ADD{the Jewish meeting place}} and went into a house that was next to it,
{\ADD{and preached there}}. Titius Justus, the owner of the house, was a non-Jewish man who had accepted what the Jews believe.

\VS{8}{\ADD{After that}}, the ruler of the Jewish meeting place,
{\ADD{whose name was}} Crispus, and all of his family [MTY] believed in the Lord
{\ADD{Jesus}}. Many other people in Corinth who listened
{\ADD{to Paul}} also believed
{\ADD{in Jesus}}. Then they were baptized.
{\ADD{But there were people who still opposed Paul and his preaching}}.


\par }{\SH Jesus commanded Paul to continue speaking about him, so Paul did that.
\par }
{\SR Acts 18:9-11

\par }{\PP \VS{9}One night Paul had a vision in which the Lord
{\ADD{Jesus}} said to him, “Do not be afraid
{\ADD{of those who oppose you}}. Instead, you should continue speaking
{\ADD{to people about me}}. Do not stop,

\VS{10}because I
{\ADD{will help}} you, and no one will be able to harm you
{\ADD{(sg) here. Keep telling people about me}}, because there are many in this city who will
{\ADD{believe in}} me.”

\VS{11}So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching people the message from God
{\ADD{about Jesus}}.


\par }{\SH Gallio refused to judge Paul.
\par }
{\SR Acts 18:12-17

\par }{\PP \VS{12}When Gallio was the
{\ADD{Roman}} governor of Achaia
{\ADD{province}}, the Jewish
{\ADD{leaders}} [SYN] there got together and seized Paul. They took him before Gallio
{\ADD{and accused him}},

\VS{13}saying, “This man is teaching people
{\ADD{a false religion, leading them}} to worship God in ways that are contrary to our
{\ADD{Jewish}} laws.”

\VS{14}When Paul was about to speak [MTY]
{\ADD{to defend himself}}, Gallio said to the Jews, “If this man had acted deceitfully or disobeyed
{\ADD{any of our Roman}} laws, I would listen
{\ADD{patiently}} to what you Jews
{\ADD{want to tell me}}.

\VS{15}However, you are merely arguing about words and names and your own
{\ADD{Jewish}} laws, so you yourselves need to resolve this. I refuse to judge these things!”

\VS{16}After Gallio
{\ADD{had said that}}, he
{\ADD{commanded some soldiers/guards}} that
{\ADD{they}} expel those
{\ADD{Jewish leaders}} from the courtroom.

\VS{17}Then
{\ADD{the mob outside}} grabbed the leader of the Jewish meeting place, Sosthenes
{\ADD{because they considered that he was responsible for those accusations against Paul}}. They beat him, right there in front of the courthouse. But Gallio did nothing about it.


\par }{\SH At Ephesus, Paul parted from Priscilla and Aquila.
\par }
{\SR Acts 18:18-21

\par }{\PP \VS{18}Paul stayed on with the believers in Corinth for ◄many days/some time►. Then he left the believers there, and went with Priscilla and
{\ADD{her husband}} Aquila. They went down to Cenchrea,
{\ADD{a port city}}. There Paul had his head shaved $\{${\ADD{someone}} shave his head$\}$ in order to partially complete a vow that he had taken. Then they got on a ship and sailed for Syria
{\ADD{province}}.

\VS{19}They arrived at Ephesus
{\ADD{city}}, and Priscilla and Aquila stayed there.

\par }{\PP {\ADD{Before Paul left Ephesus}}, he entered the Jewish meeting place and lectured to the Jews.

\VS{20}They asked him to stay longer, but he refused.

\VS{21}But, as he left, he told them, “I will come back, if God wills/desires
{\ADD{me to do that}}.” Then,
{\ADD{because he wanted to be in Jerusalem to finish completing his vow}}, he got on
{\ADD{a ship that}} sailed from Ephesus.


\par }{\SH Paul visited Jerusalem, then he went on to Antioch in Syria and then he returned to visit the believers throughout Galatia and Phrygia.
\par }
{\SR Acts 18:22-23

\par }{\PP \VS{22}When the ship arrived at Caesarea, Paul
{\ADD{got off. He}} went up
{\ADD{to Jerusalem}} and greeted the believers there. Then he went back down to Antioch
{\ADD{city in Syria province}}.


\par }{\PP \VS{23}Paul spent some time
{\ADD{with the believers}} there. Then he left Antioch and traveled to several towns
{\ADD{that he had visited previously}} in Galatia and Phrygia
{\ADD{provinces}}. He taught all of the believers more
{\ADD{of the message from God about Jesus}}.


\par }{\SH Priscilla and Aquila instructed Apollos about the gospel.
\par }
{\SR Acts 18:24-26

\par }{\PP \VS{24}{\ADD{While Paul was traveling in Galatia and Phrygia}}, a Jewish man whose name was Apollos came to Ephesus. He was a native of Alexandria
{\ADD{city}}. He
{\ADD{spoke eloquently}} and he knew the Scriptures thoroughly.

\VS{25}{\ADD{Other believers}} had taught him
{\ADD{some things}} about how the Lord
{\ADD{Jesus desires that people}} should conduct themselves, and he taught those things very enthusiastically
{\ADD{to people. He had heard about}} some of the things that Jesus did and said, and he taught those facts accurately
{\ADD{to people. However, he was teaching incompletely about Jesus, because}} he knew only what John
{\ADD{the Baptizer had taught people whom he}} baptized.

\VS{26}Apollos went to the Jewish meeting place, and he told the people there very confidently the things that he had learned. When Priscilla and Aquila heard what Apollos taught, they invited him
{\ADD{to their home}}. There they explained more accurately to him the way
{\ADD{that}} God
{\ADD{gives people eternal life}}.


\par }{\SH Apollos helped believers in Achaia.
\par }
{\SR Acts 18:27-28

\par }{\PP \VS{27}When Apollos decided that he would like to go to Achaia
{\ADD{province}}, the believers in Ephesus told him that it would be good for him to do that. So they wrote a letter to the believers
{\ADD{in Achaia saying that they}} should welcome Apollos.
{\ADD{So Apollos got on a ship to go to Corinth}}. After he arrived, he greatly helped those whom
{\ADD{God}} had kindly enabled to believe
{\ADD{in Jesus}}.

\VS{28}Apollos was vigorously arguing publicly with
{\ADD{the leaders of}} the Jews while many other people listened.
{\ADD{By quoting}} from the Scriptures, he proved to people that Jesus was the Messiah.




\par }\Chap{19}{\SH Paul helped some men to become real believers in Jesus.
\par }
{\SR Acts 19:1-7

\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul
{\ADD{left the places in Phrygia and Galatia}} provinces where he had been visiting, and traveled through
{\ADD{Asia province}} back to Ephesus. He met some people
{\ADD{who said that they}} were believers.

\VS{2}He asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed
{\ADD{God’s message}}?” They answered, “No, we
{\ADD{(exc) did not}}. We have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

\VS{3}So Paul asked, “So when you were baptized, what
{\ADD{were you showing}}?” They replied, “{\ADD{We were showing}} that we
{\ADD{(exc)}} believed what John
{\ADD{the Baptizer}} taught.”

\VS{4}Paul said, “John baptized people who turned away from their sinful behavior. He
{\ADD{also}} told the people to believe in the one who would come after he
{\ADD{had come}}, and that was Jesus.”

\VS{5}So, when those men heard that, they were baptized
{\ADD{to affirm that they believed}} [MTY] in the Lord Jesus.

\VS{6}After that, Paul placed his hands on their heads
{\ADD{one by one}}, and the
{\ADD{power of the}} Holy Spirit came upon
{\ADD{each of}} them. The
{\ADD{Holy Spirit}} enabled them to speak in various languages [MTY]
{\ADD{that they had not learned}}, and they also spoke messages
{\ADD{that the Holy Spirit}} revealed to them.

\VS{7}There were about twelve men
{\ADD{whom Paul baptized and who received the power of the Holy Spirit}}.


\par }{\SH Paul helped many people in Asia province to hear the gospel.
\par }
{\SR Acts 19:8-10

\par }{\PP \VS{8}For three months after that, Paul entered the Jewish meeting place
{\ADD{in Ephesus on each}} Sabbath/Jewish day of rest, and he spoke boldly. He convincingly taught
{\ADD{the people}} about how God wanted to rule [MET]
{\ADD{their lives}}.

\VS{9}{\ADD{A few of the people in the meeting house believed the message about Jesus}}. But some of the people would not believe that message and did not want to
{\ADD{continue to}} hear it. While many people were listening, they said many bad things about the way
{\ADD{for people to receive eternal life about which Paul was preaching}}. So Paul left them and took the believers with him
{\ADD{to meet in another place}}. He taught every day in a lecture hall
{\ADD{that a man whose name was}} Tyrannus
{\ADD{lectured in/owned}}.

\VS{10}For two years Paul continued to teach people in that building. In this way, most of [HYP] the Jews and non-Jews who lived in Asia
{\ADD{province}} heard the message about the Lord
{\ADD{Jesus}}.


\par }{\SH God enabled Paul to do amazing miracles.
\par }
{\SR Acts 19:11-12

\par }{\PP \VS{11}Also, God gave Paul the power [MTY] to do amazing miracles.

\VS{12}{\ADD{If those who were sick could not come to Paul, handkerchiefs or aprons that Paul had touched would be taken and}} placed on the sick people $\{${\ADD{others}} would take
{\ADD{and place on}} the sick people handkerchiefs or aprons that Paul had touched$\}$. As a result, those sick people would become well, and evil spirits that troubled people would leave.


\par }{\SH People honored Jesus’ name, after Jewish exorcists misused it and failed.
\par }
{\SR Acts 19:13-17

\par }{\PP \VS{13}There were also some Jews who traveled around
{\ADD{to}} various places,
{\ADD{and}} they commanded the evil spirits in those places to depart
{\ADD{from people. Certain ones of those Jews once}} tried to command the evil spirits to come out of people by saying “I command you by the authority [MTY] of the Lord Jesus, the man about whom Paul preaches, to come out!”

\VS{14}There were seven men who were doing that. They were sons of a man named Sceva, a Jew,
{\ADD{who called himself}} a chief priest.

\VS{15}But
{\ADD{one day as they were doing that}}, the evil spirit
{\ADD{refused to come out of that person. Instead, he}} said to them, “I know Jesus, and I know
{\ADD{that he has authorized}} Paul
{\ADD{to expel demons}}. ◄But no one has authorized you
{\ADD{to do anything to me!}}/who authorized you
{\ADD{to do anything to me}}?► [RHQ]”

\VS{16}{\ADD{After saying that, suddenly}} the man who was controlled by the evil spirit jumped on the seven Jewish men,
{\ADD{one after another}}, knocked all of them down, and beat each of them severely. He tore off their clothes and wounded them, causing them to bleed. So,
{\ADD{greatly frightened, they all}} ran out of the house.

\VS{17}All the people who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and non-Jews, heard what had happened. So they were afraid [MTY]. They honored the Lord Jesus [MTY]
{\ADD{because they realized that he was very powerful}}.


\par }{\SH Many believers confessed their former sins and burned their books of magic.
\par }
{\SR Acts 19:18-22

\par }{\PP \VS{18}{\ADD{At that time}}, while other believers were listening, many believers confessed the evil things that they had been doing.

\VS{19}Several of those who had
{\ADD{previously}} practiced sorcery gathered up their scrolls
{\ADD{that told how to work}} magic and burned them in a public place. When people added up how much those scrolls had cost, they realized that altogether the amount was 50,000 valuable silver coins.


\par }{\PP \VS{20}As a result, many more people heard [MTY] the message about the Lord
{\ADD{Jesus}}, and the message powerfully
{\ADD{changed their lives}}.


\par }{\PP \VS{21}After those things had happened, Paul decided that he wanted to go to Jerusalem, but he decided that
{\ADD{first}} he would visit
{\ADD{the believers in}} Macedonia and Achaia
{\ADD{provinces again}}. Paul said, “After I have been to Jerusalem, I must also go to Rome.”

\VS{22}He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, ahead to Macedonia. But Paul stayed a little longer
{\ADD{in Ephesus city}}, in Asia
{\ADD{province}}.


\par }{\SH Demetrius made silver shrines of the goddess Artemis.
\par }
{\SR Acts 19:23-24

\par }{\PP \VS{23}{\ADD{Soon after that}}, some of the people there tried to make a lot of [LIT] trouble for the people who believed the way
{\ADD{God revealed for us(inc) to receive eternal life}}.

\VS{24}There was a man there whose name was Demetrius who made little images out of silver.
{\ADD{They were models}} of the temple of
{\ADD{a goddess whose name was}} Artemis. Demetrius and the other men
{\ADD{who made those little images}} earned a lot of [LIT] money
{\ADD{from selling those images}}.


\par }{\SH Demetrius incited people to shout and to riot.
\par }
{\SR Acts 19:25-31

\par }{\PP \VS{25}Demetrius called a meeting of his workmen and also of others who made the little silver images. He said to them, “Men, you know that we
{\ADD{(inc)}} earn a lot of money doing our kind of work.

\VS{26}Also, you know that
{\ADD{this fellow}} Paul has persuaded many people who live in Ephesus
{\ADD{to no longer buy the images that we make. Now even the people from}} many other towns in our province
{\ADD{no longer want to buy what we make}}. This fellow tells people that the gods that we have made
{\ADD{and worship}} are not gods
{\ADD{and that we should not worship them}}.

\VS{27}{\ADD{If people continue to listen to him}}, soon they will ruin our business. Besides, they will no longer think that they should
{\ADD{come to}} the temple of Artemis
{\ADD{to worship her. People}} all over our Asia
{\ADD{province}} and everywhere [HYP] else worship
{\ADD{our great}} goddess
{\ADD{Artemis. Soon people}} may no longer consider that Artemis is great!”

\VS{28}All the men there were very angry
{\ADD{at Paul}} when they heard what Demetrius said. They began to shout, “The goddess Artemis of us Ephesians is very great!”

\VS{29}Many of the other people in the city heard the shouting and went
{\ADD{and joined the crowd. They also became angry at Paul}} and began shouting.
{\ADD{Several of}} the people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, two men
{\ADD{from Macedonia}} who had been traveling with Paul.
{\ADD{Then the whole crowd of people ran, dragging those men along with them}}, to the city stadium.

\VS{30}Paul also wanted to go
{\ADD{to the stadium and speak to}} the people, but the other believers would not let him go there.

\VS{31}Also, some government officials of that province who were friends of Paul
{\ADD{heard what was happening}}. So they sent someone to tell him
{\ADD{urgently}} not to go into the stadium.


\par }{\SH The crowd shouted, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
\par }
{\SR Acts 19:32-34

\par }{\PP \VS{32}The crowd of people
{\ADD{in the stadium}} continued shouting. Some shouted one thing, and some shouted something else. But most of them did not even know what the meeting was about!

\VS{33}One of the
{\ADD{Jews there was named Alexander. Some of}} the Jews pushed him to the front of the stadium,
{\ADD{so that he could speak to the crowd of people}}. So Alexander motioned with his hands to the crowd,
{\ADD{wanting them to be quiet}}. He wanted to tell them that
{\ADD{the Jews}} were not responsible
{\ADD{for the riot}}.

\VS{34}But
{\ADD{many of the non-Jewish people}} knew that Alexander was a Jew.
{\ADD{They also knew that the Jews did not worship the goddess Artemis. So the non-Jews there}} unitedly
{\ADD{and}} repeatedly shouted for about two hours, “Great is
{\ADD{the goddess}} Artemis
{\ADD{whom we(inc)}} Ephesians
{\ADD{worship}}!”


\par }{\SH The city secretary quieted, warned and dismissed the crowd.
\par }
{\SR Acts 19:35-41

\par }{\PP \VS{35}Then the city secretary made the crowd stop shouting, and he said to them, “My fellow-citizens, everyone in the world knows [RHQ] that
{\ADD{we(inc) people who live in}} Ephesus
{\ADD{city}} guard the temple
{\ADD{where we worship}} the great
{\ADD{goddess}} Artemis. Also,
{\ADD{everyone knows that we(inc) watch over}} the
{\ADD{sacred}} image
{\ADD{of our goddess}} that fell down from heaven!

\VS{36}Of course everyone knows that, and no one can say that these things are not true. So you should be quiet now. Do not suddenly do anything ◄foolish/that will cause us trouble►.

\VS{37}You
{\ADD{should not}} have brought these
{\ADD{two}} men
{\ADD{here, because they have not done anything evil}}. They have not gone into our temples and taken things
{\ADD{from there}}. And they have not spoken evil of our goddess.

\VS{38}Therefore, if Demetrius and his fellow-workmen want to accuse anyone
{\ADD{about anything bad, they should do it in the right way}}. There are courts
{\ADD{that you can go to when you want to accuse someone}}, and there are judges
{\ADD{there who have been appointed by the government}} $\{${\ADD{whom the government has appointed}}$\}$. You can accuse
{\ADD{anyone there}}.

\VS{39}But if you want to ask about something else,
{\ADD{you should ask}} for
{\ADD{other officials to}} resolve it when
{\ADD{those}} officials legally assemble.

\VS{40}{\ADD{And this is certainly not a legal meeting! Resolve this legally}} because, if
{\ADD{we(inc) do}} not, I am afraid
{\ADD{that the governor}} will hear about all this noise
{\ADD{that you have made}} and will say that we
{\ADD{(inc)}} were trying to rebel
{\ADD{against the government}}. If he would ask me what you were all shouting about, I would not be able to give him an answer.”

\VS{41}That is what the city secretary said
{\ADD{to the crowd}}. Then he told them all to go
{\ADD{home. So they left}}.




\par }\Chap{20}{\SH After being in Macedonia and Greece, Paul went to Troas.
\par }
{\SR Acts 20:1-6

\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}After the people at Ephesus had stopped rioting, Paul summoned the believers. He encouraged them
{\ADD{to continue to trust in the Lord Jesus. Soon}} after that, he told them goodbye and left to go to Macedonia
{\ADD{province}}.

\VS{2}{\ADD{After he arrived}} there, he visited
{\ADD{each town where there were believers}}, and encouraged them. Then he arrived in Greece
{\ADD{province}},
{\ADD{which is also called Achaia}}.

\VS{3}He stayed there for three months. Then he planned to return to Syria by ship, but
{\ADD{he heard that}} some of the Jews [SYN]
{\ADD{in that area}} were planning to kill him
{\ADD{as he traveled. So}} he decided instead to go
{\ADD{by land, and he traveled}} again through Macedonia.

\VS{4}The men who were going to travel with him
{\ADD{to Jerusalem were}} Sopater,
{\ADD{who was}} a son of Pyrrhus, who grew up in Berea
{\ADD{town}}; Aristarchus and Secundus, who were from Thessalonica
{\ADD{city;}} Gaius,
{\ADD{who was}} from Derbe
{\ADD{town;}} Timothy,
{\ADD{who was from Galatia province;}} and Tychicus and Trophimus who were from Asia
{\ADD{province}}.

\VS{5}Those
{\ADD{seven}} men went ahead of
{\ADD{Paul and me, Luke, by ship from Macedonia, so}} they got to Troas
{\ADD{before we did and}} waited for
{\ADD{the two of}} us there.

\VS{6}{\ADD{But we two(exc) traveled by land as far as}} Philippi
{\ADD{city}}. After the Jewish festival
{\ADD{when they eat}} unleavened bread, we got on a ship
{\ADD{that was going from}} the port near
{\ADD{Philippi to Troas city}}. After five days we
{\ADD{(exc)}} arrived at Troas and we met the other men who had traveled there
{\ADD{ahead of us}}. Then we
{\ADD{all}} stayed in Troas for seven days.


\par }{\SH At Troas, Paul encouraged believers by resurrecting Eutychus.
\par }
{\SR Acts 20:7-12

\par }{\PP \VS{7}◄On Sunday evening/On the evening of the first day of the week►, we
{\ADD{(exc) and the other believers there}} gathered together to celebrate the Lord’s Supper
{\ADD{and to eat other food}} [SYN]. Paul spoke to the believers. He continued teaching them until midnight, because he was planning to leave
{\ADD{Troas}} the next day.

\VS{8}Many
{\ADD{oil}} lamps were burning in the upstairs room in which we
{\ADD{(exc)}} had gathered,
{\ADD{so the fumes caused some people to become sleepy}}.

\VS{9}A young man whose name was Eutychus was there. He was seated on
{\ADD{the sill of}} an
{\ADD{open}} window
{\ADD{on the third story of the house}}. As Paul continued talking for a long time, Eutychus became sleepier and sleepier. Finally, he was sound/really asleep. He fell
{\ADD{out of the window}} from the third story down
{\ADD{to the ground. Some of the believers went down}} immediately and picked him up.
{\ADD{But he was}} dead.

\VS{10}Paul
{\ADD{also}} went down. He lay down and stretched out on top of the young man and put his arms around him. Then he said
{\ADD{to the people who were standing around}}, “Do not worry, he is alive
{\ADD{again now}}!”

\VS{11}Then Paul,
{\ADD{along with the others}}, went upstairs again and they ate the Lord’s Supper and other food [SYN]. Afterwards, Paul conversed with the believers until dawn. Then he left.

\VS{12}The
{\ADD{other}} people took the young man
{\ADD{home}}, and were greatly encouraged because he was alive
{\ADD{again}}.


\par }{\SH Paul and his companions traveled from Troas to Miletus.
\par }
{\SR Acts 20:13-16

\par }{\PP \VS{13}We then went to the ship. Paul did not get on the ship
{\ADD{with us in Troas}}, because he preferred to go
{\ADD{more quickly}} overland to Assos
{\ADD{town}}. The rest of us got on the ship and sailed for Assos.

\VS{14}We
{\ADD{(exc)}} met Paul in Assos. He got on
{\ADD{the ship}} with us, and we sailed to Mitylene
{\ADD{town}}.

\VS{15}The day after
{\ADD{we reached Mitylene}}, we
{\ADD{sailed from there and}} arrived
{\ADD{at a place}} near Kios
{\ADD{Island}}. The day after that, we sailed to Samos
{\ADD{Island}}. The next day we
{\ADD{left Samos and}} sailed to Miletus
{\ADD{town}}.

\VS{16}{\ADD{Miletus was just south of Ephesus city}}. Paul had
{\ADD{earlier}} decided that he would not get on a ship that would stop at Ephesus, because he did not want to spend
{\ADD{several}} days in Asia
{\ADD{province}}. If possible, he wanted to arrive in Jerusalem by the
{\ADD{time of the}} Pentecost festival,
{\ADD{and the time of that festival was near}}.


\par }{\SH Paul reminded the Ephesian elders how he had conducted himself and had taught them.
\par }
{\SR Acts 20:17-21

\par }{\PP \VS{17}{\ADD{When the ship arrived at}} Miletus, Paul sent
{\ADD{a messenger}} to Ephesus to ask the elders of the congregation to come to talk with him.


\par }{\PP \VS{18}When the elders arrived, Paul said to them, “You personally know how I
{\ADD{conducted myself among you the entire time}} that I was with you, from the first day when I arrived
{\ADD{here}} in Asia
{\ADD{province until the day I left}}.

\VS{19}{\ADD{You know how}} I was serving the Lord
{\ADD{Jesus}} very humbly and how I sometimes wept
{\ADD{about people. You also know how}} I suffered because the Jews [SYN]
{\ADD{who were not believers often}} tried
{\ADD{to harm me}}.

\VS{20}You also know that, as I preached
{\ADD{God’s message}} to you, I never left out anything that would help you. You know that I taught you
{\ADD{God’s message}} when many people were present, and I
{\ADD{also went to your}} homes and taught it there.

\VS{21}I preached both to Jews and to non-Jews, telling them
{\ADD{all}} that they must turn away from their sinful behavior.
{\ADD{I also told them they should}} believe in our Lord Jesus.”


\par }{\SH Paul told them that they would never see him again.
\par }
{\SR Acts 20:22-31

\par }{\PP \VS{22}“And now note this: I am going to Jerusalem, because
{\ADD{God’s}} Spirit has clearly shown me that I must go there. I do not know what will happen to me
{\ADD{while I am there}}.

\VS{23}But I do know that in each city
{\ADD{where I have stopped}}, the Holy Spirit has ◄told me/{\ADD{caused the believers to}} tell me► that
{\ADD{in Jerusalem}} people will put me in prison [PRS] and will cause me to suffer [PRS].

\VS{24}But I do not care even if people kill me, if first I am able to finish the work [MET] that the Lord Jesus has told me
{\ADD{to do. He appointed me}} to tell people the good message that God
{\ADD{saves us}} by doing for us what we do not deserve.

\VS{25}I have preached to you the message about how God desires to rule
{\ADD{people’s lives}}. But now I know that today is the last time that you fellow believers will see me [SYN].

\VS{26}So I want you all to understand that if anyone
{\ADD{who has heard me preach}} dies
{\ADD{without trusting in Jesus}}, it is not my fault [MTY],

\VS{27}because I told you [LIT] everything [HYP] that God has planned for us
{\ADD{(inc)}}.

\VS{28}{\ADD{You leaders}} must continue to believe and obey
{\ADD{God’s message. You must also help}} all the other believers [MET] for whom the Holy Spirit has caused you to be responsible [MTY]. Watch over [MET] yourselves and the other believers
{\ADD{as}} a shepherd
{\ADD{watches over his sheep}}. God bought them with the blood
{\ADD{that flowed from}} his
{\ADD{Son’s body on the cross}}.

\VS{29}I know
{\ADD{very well}} that after I leave,
{\ADD{people who teach}} [MET]
{\ADD{false doctrines}} will come among you and will do great harm to the believers.
{\ADD{They will be like}} fierce wolves
{\ADD{that kill sheep}}.

\VS{30}Even in your own group of believers there will be some who will deceive
{\ADD{other}} believers by teaching them messages that are false. They will teach those messages so that some people
{\ADD{will believe them and}} will become their followers.

\VS{31}So watch out
{\ADD{that none of you stops believing the true message about our Lord Jesus}}. Remember that day and night for
{\ADD{about}} three years I repeatedly taught you that message, and warned you with tears
{\ADD{in my eyes not to believe any other message}}.”


\par }{\SH Paul entrusted them to God and to the message about God’s goodness.
\par }
{\SR Acts 20:32-35

\par }{\PP \VS{32}“{\ADD{Now as I leave you}}, I ask God to protect you and to keep you believing the message
{\ADD{that he saves us(inc)}} by doing for us what we do not deserve.
{\ADD{If you continue believing}} the message
{\ADD{that I told you}}, you will become
{\ADD{spiritually mature}}, and God will give you the blessings that he has promised to give to all of those who belong to him.


\par }{\PP \VS{33}{\ADD{As for myself}}, I have not desired anyone’s money [MTY] or
{\ADD{fine}} clothing.

\VS{34}You yourselves know that I have worked
{\ADD{with my hands}} [MTY] to earn the money that my companions and I needed.

\VS{35}In everything that I did, I showed you that we
{\ADD{(inc)}} should work hard in order
{\ADD{to have enough money}} to give some to those who are needy. We
{\ADD{(inc)}} should remember that our Lord Jesus himself said, ‘You are happy when people give you what you need, but God will be happy with you when you give other people what they need.’ ”


\par }{\SH Paul prayed with them and they sadly told him goodbye.
\par }
{\SR Acts 20:36-38

\par }{\PP \VS{36}When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of the elders and prayed.

\VS{37}They all cried a lot, and they hugged Paul and kissed him.

\VS{38}They were especially sad because he had said that they would never see him [SYN] again. Then they
{\ADD{all}} went with him to the ship.




\par }\Chap{21}{\SH Paul, Luke and his other companions traveled from Miletus to Tyre.
\par }
{\SR Acts 21:1-3

\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}{\ADD{After}} we said goodbye to the elders
{\ADD{from Ephesus}}, we
{\ADD{got on the ship and}} sailed to Cos
{\ADD{Island, where the ship stopped for the night}}. The next day we sailed from Cos to Rhodes
{\ADD{Island, where the ship stopped again. The day after}} that we sailed to Patara
{\ADD{town, where the ship stopped. This was on Patara Island}}.

\VS{2}{\ADD{At Patara we left that ship, and someone told us that}} there was a ship that would be going to Phoenicia
{\ADD{region. So}} we got on that ship, and it left.

\VS{3}{\ADD{We sailed until}} we could see Cyprus
{\ADD{Island}}. We passed to the south of the island and continued sailing until we arrived at
{\ADD{Phoenicia region, in}} Syria
{\ADD{province}}. We arrived at Tyre
{\ADD{city. The ship was going to stay there several days, because its workers}} had to unload the cargo.


\par }{\SH At Tyre, believers warned Paul not to go to Jerusalem, but he went on anyway.
\par }
{\SR Acts 21:4-6

\par }{\PP \VS{4}{\ADD{Someone told us}} where the believers in Tyre lived, so we
{\ADD{(exc) went and}} stayed with them for seven days. Because
{\ADD{God’s}} Spirit revealed to them ◄{\ADD{that people would cause Paul to suffer/Paul would suffer}}►
{\ADD{in Jerusalem}}, they told Paul that he should not go there.

\VS{5}But when it was time
{\ADD{for the ship to leave again}}, we
{\ADD{prepared to}} continue going
{\ADD{to Jerusalem}}. When we left
{\ADD{Tyre}}, all the believers, including their wives and children, went with us
{\ADD{to the edge of the sea}}. We all knelt down there on the sand/shore and prayed.

\VS{6}After we all said goodbye, Paul and we
{\ADD{his companions}} got on the ship, and the
{\ADD{other}} believers returned to their own homes.


\par }{\SH Paul and his companions sailed from Tyre to Caesarea.
\par }
{\SR Acts 21:7-9

\par }{\PP \VS{7}After we
{\ADD{(exc)}} left Tyre, we continued on
{\ADD{that ship}} to Ptolemais
{\ADD{city}}. There were believers there, and we greeted them and stayed with them that night.

\VS{8}The next day we left
{\ADD{Ptolemais}} and sailed to Caesarea
{\ADD{city}}, where we stayed in the home of Philip, who
{\ADD{spent his days}} telling others how to become disciples of Jesus. He was one of the seven
{\ADD{men whom the believers in Jerusalem had chosen to care for the widows}}.

\VS{9}He had four daughters who were not married. Each of them
{\ADD{frequently}} spoke messages that the Holy Spirit had revealed to them.


\par }{\SH The believers could not persuade Paul from going on to Jerusalem.
\par }
{\SR Acts 21:10-14

\par }{\PP \VS{10}After
{\ADD{we(exc) had been in Philip’s house for}} several days, a believer whose name was Agabus came down from Judea
{\ADD{district}} and arrived
{\ADD{in Caesarea}}. He
{\ADD{frequently}} spoke messages that the Holy Spirit had told him.

\VS{11}Coming over to where we were, he took off Paul’s belt. Then he tied his own feet and hands with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘The Jewish
{\ADD{leaders}} [SYN] in Jerusalem will tie up
{\ADD{the hands and feet of}} the owner of this belt, like this, and they will hand him over to non-Jewish people
{\ADD{as a prisoner}}.’ ”

\VS{12}When
{\ADD{the rest of}} us heard that, we and
{\ADD{other}} believers there repeatedly pled with Paul, “Please do not go up to Jerusalem!”

\VS{13}But Paul replied, “◄Please stop crying and trying to discourage me [IDM]
{\ADD{from going!}}/Why are you crying and trying to discourage me [IDM]
{\ADD{from going}}?► [RHQ] I am willing to be put $\{${\ADD{for people}} to put me$\}$ in prison and also to be killed $\{${\ADD{for them}} to kill me$\}$ in Jerusalem because I
{\ADD{serve}} [MTY] the Lord Jesus.”

\VS{14}When
{\ADD{we(exc) realized that}} he was determined
{\ADD{to go to Jerusalem}}, we did not try
{\ADD{any longer}} to persuade him
{\ADD{not to go}}. We said, “May ◄the Lord
{\ADD{God}} do what he wants/the Lord’s will be done►!”


\par }{\SH Paul and other believers went from Caesarea to Jerusalem.
\par }
{\SR Acts 21:15-16

\par }{\PP \VS{15}After those days
{\ADD{in Caesarea}}, we
{\ADD{(exc)}} prepared
{\ADD{our things}} and
{\ADD{left to}} go
{\ADD{by land}} up to Jerusalem.

\VS{16}Some of the believers from Caesarea also went with us.
{\ADD{On the way to Jerusalem}}, we stayed
{\ADD{one night}} in the house of
{\ADD{a man whose name was}} Mnason. He was from Cyprus
{\ADD{Island}}, and he had believed
{\ADD{in Jesus}} when people were first beginning to hear the message
{\ADD{about him}}.


\par }{\SH Paul agreed with church leaders to perform a Jewish purifying ritual.
\par }
{\SR Acts 21:17-26

\par }{\PP \VS{17}When we arrived in Jerusalem,
{\ADD{a group of}} the believers greeted us happily.

\VS{18}The next day Paul and the rest of us went to speak with James,
{\ADD{who was the leader of the congregation there}}. All of the
{\ADD{other}} leaders/elders
{\ADD{of the congregation in Jerusalem}} were also there.

\VS{19}Paul greeted them, and then he reported all of the things that God had enabled him to do among the non-Jewish people.

\VS{20}When they heard that, James and the other elders said, “Praise the Lord!” Then
{\ADD{one of}} them said to Paul, “Brother/Friend, you
{\ADD{(sg)}} know that there are very many thousands of us
{\ADD{(inc)}} Jewish people
{\ADD{here}} who have believed
{\ADD{in the Lord Jesus}}. Also, you know that we
{\ADD{(inc)}} all continue very carefully to obey the laws
{\ADD{that Moses gave us}}.

\VS{21}{\ADD{But our fellow Jewish believers}} have been told $\{$have heard
{\ADD{people say}}$\}$ that when you are among non-Jews, you tell the Jewish believers who live there that they should stop obeying
{\ADD{the laws}} [MTY] ◄{\ADD{of}} Moses/{\ADD{that}} Moses
{\ADD{received from God}}►.
{\ADD{People say that}} you tell
{\ADD{those Jewish believers}} not to circumcise their sons and not to practice our
{\ADD{other}} customs.
{\ADD{We(exc) do not believe that this is true}}.

\VS{22}But our fellow
{\ADD{Jewish}} believers will certainly hear that you have arrived,
{\ADD{and they will be angry with you}}. So
{\ADD{you}} need to do something [RHQ]
{\ADD{to show them that what they heard about you is not true}}.

\VS{23}So you should do what we suggest to you. There are four men among us who have strongly promised
{\ADD{to God}} about
{\ADD{something}}.

\VS{24}Go with these men
{\ADD{to the Temple}} and
{\ADD{ritually}} purify yourself along with them. Then,
{\ADD{when it is time for them to offer the sacrifices for that ritual}}, pay for what they offer
{\ADD{as sacrifices}}. After that, they can shave their heads
{\ADD{to show that they have done what they promised to do. And when people see you in the courts of the Temple with those men}}, they will know that what they have been told $\{$what people have told them$\}$ about you is not true. Instead, all of them will know that you obey all our Jewish laws
{\ADD{and rituals}}.

\VS{25}As for the non-Jewish believers,
{\ADD{we elders here in Jerusalem have talked}} about
{\ADD{which of our laws}} they
{\ADD{should obey, and}} we
{\ADD{(exc)}} wrote them
{\ADD{a letter, telling them}} what we decided.
{\ADD{We wrote}} that they should not eat meat that people have offered as a sacrifice to any idol,
{\ADD{that they should not eat}} blood
{\ADD{from animals}}, and that
{\ADD{they should not eat}} meat from animals
{\ADD{that people have killed by}} strangling
{\ADD{them. We also told them that}} they should not have sex with someone to whom they are not married.”

\VS{26}So Paul
{\ADD{agreed to do what they asked}}, and the next day he took the
{\ADD{four}} men, and together they ritually purified themselves. After that, Paul went to the Temple
{\ADD{courts and}} told
{\ADD{the priest}} what day they would
{\ADD{finish}} purifying themselves
{\ADD{ritually}} and when
{\ADD{they}} would offer
{\ADD{the animals as sacrifices}} for each of them.


\par }{\SH Some Jews seized Paul in the Temple courts.
\par }
{\SR Acts 21:27-30

\par }{\PP \VS{27-29}When the seven days
{\ADD{for purifying themselves}} were nearly finished, Paul
{\ADD{returned}} to the Temple
{\ADD{courtyard}}. Some Jews from Asia
{\ADD{province}} saw him there,
{\ADD{and they were very angry at him}}. On another day they had seen Paul
{\ADD{walking around}} in Jerusalem with Trophimus, who was a non-Jew. Their laws did not permit non-Jews to be in the Temple, and they thought that Paul had brought Trophimus into the Temple
{\ADD{courtyard that day. So}} they called out to many other Jews
{\ADD{who were in the Temple courtyard}} to
{\ADD{help them}} seize [MTY] Paul. They shouted, “Fellow Israelites, come and help
{\ADD{us punish this}} man! This is the one who is
{\ADD{constantly}} teaching people wherever
{\ADD{he goes that they}} should despise the
{\ADD{Jewish}} people.
{\ADD{He teaches people that they should no longer obey}} the laws
{\ADD{of Moses}} nor respect this holy
{\ADD{Temple}}. He has even brought non-Jews here into
{\ADD{the court of}} our Temple, causing God to consider it no longer holy!”

\VS{30}{\ADD{People}} throughout [MTY] the city heard that there was trouble
{\ADD{at the Temple courtyard}}, and they came running there. They grabbed Paul and dragged him outside of the Temple
{\ADD{area}}. The gates
{\ADD{to the Temple courtyard were shut}} $\{${\ADD{The Temple guards}} shut the doors
{\ADD{to the Temple courts}}$\}$ immediately,
{\ADD{so that the people would not riot inside the Temple area}}.


\par }{\SH Roman soldiers ran to where those Jews were trying to kill Paul.
\par }
{\SR Acts 21:31-32

\par }{\PP \VS{31}While they were trying to kill Paul, someone
{\ADD{ran to the fort near the Temple}} and told the Roman commander that many [HYP] people [MTY] in Jerusalem were rioting
{\ADD{at the Temple}}.

\VS{32}The commander quickly took some officers and
{\ADD{a large group of}} soldiers and ran to
{\ADD{the Temple area where}} the crowd was. When the crowd of people
{\ADD{who were yelling and beating Paul}} saw the commander and the soldiers
{\ADD{coming}}, they stopped beating him.


\par }{\SH After the commander arrested Paul, soldiers carried him towards the fort.
\par }
{\SR Acts 21:33-40

\par }{\PP \VS{33}The commander came to
{\ADD{where Paul was and}} seized him. He
{\ADD{commanded soldiers}} to fasten a chain to
{\ADD{each of}} Paul’s
{\ADD{arms}}. Then he asked
{\ADD{the people in the crowd}}, “Who is this man, and what has he done?”

\VS{34}Some of the many people there were shouting one thing,
{\ADD{and}} some were shouting something else. Because they continued shouting so loudly, the commander could not understand
{\ADD{what they were shouting. So}} he
{\ADD{commanded}} that Paul be taken $\{${\ADD{the soldiers}} to take Paul$\}$ into the barracks
{\ADD{so that he could question him there}}.

\VS{35}{\ADD{The soldiers}} led Paul to the steps
{\ADD{of the barracks}}, but many people continued to follow them, trying to kill
{\ADD{Paul. So the commander told}} the soldiers to carry Paul
{\ADD{up the steps into the barracks}}.

\VS{36}The crowd that followed kept shouting, “Kill him! Kill him!”


\par }{\PP \VS{37}As Paul was about to be taken $\{${\ADD{the soldiers}} were about to take Paul$\}$ into the barracks, he said
{\ADD{in Greek}} to the commander, “May I speak to you?” The commander said, “◄I am surprised that you can speak the Greek
{\ADD{language}}!/Can you
{\ADD{(sg)}} speak the Greek
{\ADD{language}}?►” [RHQ]

\VS{38}“◄I
{\ADD{thought}} that you
{\ADD{(sg)}} were that fellow/Are you not that fellow► from Egypt [RHQ] who wanted to rebel
{\ADD{against the government not long ago}}, and who took 4,000 violent terrorists
{\ADD{with him}} out into the desert,
{\ADD{so that we could not catch him}}?”

\VS{39}Paul answered, “{\ADD{No, I am not!}} I am a Jew. I
{\ADD{was born}} in Tarsus, which is an important [LIT] city in Cilicia
{\ADD{province}}. I ask that you
{\ADD{(sg)}} let me speak to the people.”

\VS{40}Then the commander permitted Paul
{\ADD{to speak. So}} Paul stood on the steps and motioned with his hand
{\ADD{for the crowd to be quiet. And after}} the people in the crowd became quiet, Paul spoke to them in
{\ADD{their own}} Hebrew language [MTY].




\par }\Chap{22}{\SH Paul defended his believing in Jesus, but the Jews wanted to kill him.
\par }
{\SR Acts 22:1-16

\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}Paul said, “{\ADD{Jewish}} elders and my other fellow Jews, listen to me now while I reply to
{\ADD{those who are accusing me}}!”

\VS{2}When the crowd of people heard Paul speaking to them in
{\ADD{their own}} Hebrew language, they became even more quiet and really listened. Then Paul said to them,

\VS{3}“I am a Jew,
{\ADD{as are all of you}}. I was born in Tarsus
{\ADD{city}}, in Cilicia
{\ADD{province}}, but I grew up here in Jerusalem.
{\ADD{When I was young, for many years}} I studied the laws
{\ADD{that Moses gave to our ancestors}}. I was taught by
{\ADD{the famous teacher}} Gamaliel [MTY] $\{${\ADD{The famous teacher}} Gamaliel taught [MTY] me$\}$.
{\ADD{I have}} carefully
{\ADD{obeyed those laws, because}} I have wanted to obey God. I
{\ADD{am sure that}} many of you also carefully obey
{\ADD{those laws}}.

\VS{4}{\ADD{That is why}} I previously persecuted those who believe the message
{\ADD{that people call}} the Way
{\ADD{that Jesus taught. I continually looked for ways}} to kill
{\ADD{them. Whenever I found}} men or women
{\ADD{who believed that message}}, I
{\ADD{commanded that}} they should be seized and thrown $\{${\ADD{people to}} seize them and throw them$\}$ into jail.

\VS{5}The supreme priest knows this, and so do the
{\ADD{other respected men who belong to our Jewish}} Council. They gave me letters to
{\ADD{take to}} their fellow Jews in Damascus
{\ADD{city. By means of those letters, they authorized me to}} go to there and find people who believed in
{\ADD{Jesus. They had written in the letters that I was to bring those people}} as prisoners to Jerusalem, so that they would be punished here $\{${\ADD{the leaders here}} could punish them$\}$.

\par }{\PP {\ADD{So I went on my way to Damascus}}.

\VS{6}About noon, my companions and I were getting near Damascus. Suddenly a bright light from the sky flashed all around me.

\VS{7}{\ADD{The light was so bright that}} I fell to the ground. Then I heard the voice
{\ADD{of someone}} speaking to me
{\ADD{from up in the sky. The one who was speaking to me said}}, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you
{\ADD{(sg)}} do things to harm me?’

\VS{8}I answered, ‘Who are you?’ He replied, ‘I am Jesus from Nazareth. I
{\ADD{am the one}} whom you
{\ADD{(sg)}} are harming
{\ADD{by doing things to harm my followers}}.’

\VS{9}The men who were
{\ADD{traveling}} with me saw the
{\ADD{very bright}} light,
{\ADD{and they heard a voice}}, but they did not understand what the voice said to me.

\VS{10}Then I asked, ‘Lord, what
{\ADD{do you want}} me to do?’ The Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus!
{\ADD{A man}} there will tell you
{\ADD{(sg)}} all that I have planned for you to do.’

\VS{11}{\ADD{After that, I could not see}}, because the
{\ADD{very bright}} light had caused me to become blind. So my companions took me by the hand and led me until
{\ADD{we(exc) arrived}} in Damascus.

\VS{12}{\ADD{A couple of days}} later, a man whose name was Ananias came to
{\ADD{see}} me. He was a man who
{\ADD{greatly respected God and}} carefully obeyed
{\ADD{our Jewish}} laws. All the Jews living in Damascus said good things about him.

\VS{13}He came and stood beside me and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, see
{\ADD{again}}!’ Instantly I could see! I saw Ananias
{\ADD{standing there beside me}}.

\VS{14}Then he said: ‘The God whom
{\ADD{we(inc) worship and}} whom our ancestors
{\ADD{worshipped}} has chosen you and will show you what he wants
{\ADD{you to do. He has allowed you}} to see the righteous one,
{\ADD{the Messiah}}, and you have heard him speaking
{\ADD{to you}}.

\VS{15}He wants you to tell people everywhere what you have seen and heard
{\ADD{from him}}.

\VS{16}So now ◄do not delay!/why delay?► [RHQ] Stand up, let
{\ADD{me}} baptize you, and by praying to the Lord
{\ADD{Jesus ask God}} to forgive you
{\ADD{(sg)}} for your sins!’ ”


\par }{\SH Paul told about the Lord’s commanding him to go to non-Jewish people.
\par }
{\SR Acts 22:17-22

\par }{\PP \VS{17}“Later, I returned to Jerusalem.
{\ADD{One day}} I went to the Temple courtyard. While I was praying there, I saw a vision
{\ADD{in which}}

\VS{18}I saw the Lord speaking to me. He said to me, ‘{\ADD{Do not stay here}}! Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people
{\ADD{here}} will not ◄believe/listen to► what you
{\ADD{(sg)}} tell
{\ADD{them}} about me!’

\VS{19}But I
{\ADD{protested and}} said to him, ‘Lord, they know that I went to many of our meeting houses looking for people who believe in you. I was putting in jail those
{\ADD{whom I found}} who believed in you, and I was even beating them.

\VS{20}{\ADD{They remember that}} when Stephen was killed [MTY] $\{$when people killed [MTY] Stephen$\}$ because he told people about you, I stood there
{\ADD{watching it all}} and approving
{\ADD{what they were doing}}. I
{\ADD{even}} guarded the outer garments that those who were murdering him
{\ADD{had thrown aside. So if I stay here, the fact that I have changed how I think about you will surely impress those leaders of our people}}.’

\VS{21}But the Lord said to me, ‘No,
{\ADD{do not stay here}}! Leave
{\ADD{Jerusalem, because}} I am going to send you
{\ADD{(sg)}} far away
{\ADD{from here}} to non-Jewish people!’ ”

\VS{22}The people listened
{\ADD{quietly}} to what Paul was saying until
{\ADD{he mentioned the Lord sending him to non-Jewish people}}. Then they began shouting
{\ADD{angrily}}, “Kill him!
{\ADD{He does not deserve to live any longer}}!”
{\ADD{They said that because they could not believe that God would save anyone except Jews}}.


\par }{\SH Paul said that he was a Roman citizen, so soldiers did not flog him.
\par }
{\SR Acts 22:23-29

\par }{\PP \VS{23}While they continued shouting,
{\ADD{“Kill him!”}} they took off their cloaks and threw dust into the air,
{\ADD{which showed how angry they were}}.

\VS{24}So the commander
{\ADD{commanded}} that Paul be taken $\{${\ADD{soldiers}} to take Paul$\}$ into the barracks. He told
{\ADD{the soldiers}} that they should strike Paul with a whip
{\ADD{that had pieces of bone/metal on the end of it}}, in order to make him tell what he had done that made the Jews shout so angrily.
{\ADD{So the soldiers took Paul into the barracks}}.

\VS{25}Then they stretched his arms out
{\ADD{and tied them}} so that they could whip him
{\ADD{on his back. But}} Paul said to the officer who was standing nearby
{\ADD{watching}}, “{\ADD{You(sg) should think carefully about this}}! You will certainly be [RHQ] acting unlawfully if you whip me, a Roman
{\ADD{citizen whom}} no
{\ADD{one has put on trial and}} condemned!”

\VS{26}When the officer heard that, he went to the commander and reported it to him. He said
{\ADD{to the commander}}, “This man is a Roman
{\ADD{citizen}} ◄Surely you would not
{\ADD{command us to whip him}}!/Do you really want
{\ADD{us to whip him}}?► [RHQ]”

\VS{27}The commander
{\ADD{was surprised when he heard that. He himself}} went
{\ADD{into the barracks}} and said to Paul, “Tell me, are you
{\ADD{(sg) really}} a Roman
{\ADD{citizen}}?” Paul answered, “Yes, I
{\ADD{am}}.”

\VS{28}Then the commander said, “{\ADD{I am also a Roman citizen}}. I paid a lot of money to become a
{\ADD{Roman}} citizen.” Paul said, “But I was born a
{\ADD{Roman}} citizen,
{\ADD{so I did not need to pay anything}}.”

\VS{29}The soldiers
{\ADD{were about to whip Paul and to ask him questions about what he had done. But when they heard what Paul said, they}} left him immediately. The commander also became afraid, because he realized that Paul was a Roman
{\ADD{citizen}} and that he had
{\ADD{illegally commanded soldiers to}} tie up Paul’s
{\ADD{hands}}.


\par }{\SH The commander’s soldiers brought Paul to the Jewish Council.
\par }
{\SR Acts 22:30

\par }{\PP \VS{30}{\ADD{The commander still}} wanted to know exactly why the Jews were accusing Paul. So the next day he
{\ADD{told the soldiers to}} take the chains off Paul. He also summoned the chief priests and the
{\ADD{other Jewish}} Council
{\ADD{members}}. Then he took Paul
{\ADD{to where the Council was meeting}} and
{\ADD{commanded}} him to stand before them.




\par }\Chap{23}{\SH Paul apologized for unknowingly denouncing the high priest.
\par }
{\SR Acts 23:1-5

\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}Paul looked straight at the Jewish council members and said: “My fellow Jews, all my life I have lived respecting our God, and I do not know of anything that I have done that I knew was wrong/evil.”

\VS{2}When Ananias the supreme priest
{\ADD{heard what Paul said}}, he commanded the men who were standing near Paul to hit him on the mouth.

\VS{3}Then Paul said to Ananias, “God will punish you
{\ADD{(sg) for that}}, you hypocrite [MET]! You sit there and judge me, using the laws that
{\ADD{God gave Moses}}. But you
{\ADD{yourself}} disobey those laws, because you commanded me to be struck $\{${\ADD{these men}} to strike me$\}$
{\ADD{without having proved that I have done anything that is wrong!}}”

\VS{4}The men who were standing near Paul
{\ADD{rebuked him. They}} said, “Are not you
{\ADD{(sg)}} afraid to insult God’s
{\ADD{servant, our}} supreme priest?”

\VS{5}Paul replied, “My fellow Jews, I
{\ADD{am sorry that I said that}}. I did not know that the man
{\ADD{who told one of you to hit me}} is the high priest.
{\ADD{If I had known that, I would not have insulted our supreme priest}}, because I
{\ADD{know that}} it is written $\{${\ADD{that Moses}} wrote$\}$
{\ADD{in our Jewish law}}, ‘Do not speak evil of any of your rulers!’ ”


\par }{\SH The commander rescued Paul from the Council members.
\par }
{\SR Acts 23:6-10

\par }{\PP \VS{6}Paul realized that some of the
{\ADD{Council members}} were Sadducees and others were Pharisees. So,
{\ADD{in order to cause the Pharisees and Sadducees to argue among themselves instead of accusing him}}, he called out loudly in the Council
{\ADD{hall}}, “My fellow Jews, I am a Pharisee, like my father was. I have been put $\{${\ADD{You}} have put me$\}$ on trial
{\ADD{here}} because I confidently expect that
{\ADD{some day God}} will ◄cause people who have died to become alive again/raise people from the dead►.”

\VS{7}When he said that, the Pharisees and Sadducees started to argue with one another
{\ADD{about whether people who have died will become alive again or not}}.

\VS{8}The Sadducees believe that after people die, they will not become alive again. They also believe that there are no angels and no
{\ADD{other kinds of}} spirits. But the Pharisees believe
{\ADD{that all people who have died will one day become alive again. They also believe}} that there are
{\ADD{angels and other kinds of spirits}}.

\VS{9}So the Council members ◄were divided/did not agree with each other►, and they began shouting at one another
{\ADD{as they argued}}. Some of the teachers of the laws that
{\ADD{God gave Moses}} who were Pharisees stood up. One of them said, “We
{\ADD{(exc)}} think that this man has done nothing wrong.” Another said, “Maybe an angel or some
{\ADD{other}} spirit
{\ADD{really}} spoke to him
{\ADD{and what he says is true}}.”

\VS{10}Then the
{\ADD{Pharisees and Sadducees}} argued even more loudly
{\ADD{with one another}}. As a result, the commander ◄was afraid/thought► that they would tear Paul to pieces. So he
{\ADD{commanded}} soldiers to go down
{\ADD{from the barracks}} and forcefully take Paul away from the Council members and bring him up into the barracks.
{\ADD{So the soldiers did that}}.


\par }{\SH The Lord revealed that Paul would tell people about him in Rome.
\par }
{\SR Acts 23:11

\par }{\PP \VS{11}That night,
{\ADD{in a vision Paul saw}} the Lord
{\ADD{Jesus come and}} stand near him. The Lord said
{\ADD{to him}}, “Be courageous! You
{\ADD{(sg)}} have told people
{\ADD{here}} in Jerusalem about me, and you must tell people in Rome
{\ADD{about me}}, too.”


\par }{\SH Some Jews plotted to kill Paul.
\par }
{\SR Acts 23:12-15

\par }{\PP \VS{12}The next morning
{\ADD{some}} of the Jews [MTY]
{\ADD{who hated Paul}} met secretly and talked
{\ADD{about how they could kill him}}. They promised
{\ADD{themselves}} that they would not eat or drink anything until they had killed him. They asked God to curse them
{\ADD{if they did not do what they promised}}.

\VS{13}There were more than 40 men who planned to do that.

\VS{14}They went to the chief priests and
{\ADD{Jewish}} elders and told them, “God has heard us promise/vow that we
{\ADD{(exc)}} will not eat
{\ADD{or drink}} anything until we
{\ADD{(exc)}} have killed Paul.

\VS{15}So
{\ADD{we request that}} you go to the commander and ask him, on behalf of the whole Jewish Council, to bring Paul down to us
{\ADD{from the barracks}}. Tell the commander that you want to question Paul some more. But we
{\ADD{(exc)}} will be waiting to kill Paul while he is on the way here.”


\par }{\SH Paul’s nephew warned that some Jews had plotted to kill Paul.
\par }
{\SR Acts 23:16-22

\par }{\PP \VS{16}But the son of Paul’s sister heard what they were planning to do, so he went into the barracks and told Paul.

\VS{17}{\ADD{When Paul heard that}}, he called one of the officers and said to him, “{\ADD{Please}} take this young man to the commander, because he needs to tell him something
{\ADD{important}}.”

\VS{18}So the officer took Paul’s nephew to the commander. The officer said to the commander, “That prisoner, Paul, called me and said, ‘Please take this young man to the commander, because he needs to tell him something
{\ADD{important}}.’ ”

\VS{19}The commander took the young man by the hand, led him off by himself, and asked him, “What do you
{\ADD{(sg)}} need to tell me?”

\VS{20}The young man said, “{\ADD{There are some}} [SYN] Jews who have planned to ask you
{\ADD{(sg)}} to bring Paul before their Council tomorrow. They will say that they want to ask him some more questions.
{\ADD{But that is not true}}.

\VS{21}Do not do what they ask you
{\ADD{(sg)}} to do, because there are more than 40
{\ADD{Jewish}} men who will be hiding and waiting
{\ADD{to attack Paul when he passes by on the way to the Council}}. They even promised/vowed to God that they will not eat or drink anything until they have killed Paul. They are ready
{\ADD{to do it}}, and right now they are waiting for you
{\ADD{(sg)}} to agree
{\ADD{to do what they are asking you to do}}.”

\VS{22}The commander said to
{\ADD{Paul’s}} young nephew, “Do not tell anyone that you
{\ADD{(sg)}} have told me
{\ADD{about their plan}}.” Then he sent the young man away.


\par }{\SH Many soldiers escorted Paul safely to Governor Felix at Caesarea.
\par }
{\SR Acts 23:23-35

\par }{\PP \VS{23}Then the commander called two of his officers and told them, “Get a group of 200 soldiers ready
{\ADD{to travel}}. Take along 70 soldiers riding horses, and 200 other soldiers carrying spears.
{\ADD{All of you must be ready}} to leave at nine o’clock tonight, to go
{\ADD{down}} to Caesarea.

\VS{24}And take along horses for Paul
{\ADD{and those accompanying him}} to ride, and safely escort him to
{\ADD{the palace of}} Governor Felix.”

\VS{25}Then the commander wrote a letter
{\ADD{to send to the governor}}. This is what he wrote:

\VS{26}“{\ADD{I am}} Claudius Lysias
{\ADD{writing to you}}. You, Felix, are our governor whom we
{\ADD{(exc)}} respect,
{\ADD{and I sincerely send you}} my greetings.

\VS{27}I
{\ADD{have sent you(sg)}} this man,
{\ADD{Paul, because certain}} Jews seized him and were about to kill him. But I heard
{\ADD{someone tell me}} that he is a Roman citizen, so I and my soldiers went and rescued him.

\VS{28}I wanted to know what those Jews were saying that he had done wrong, so I took him to their Jewish Council.

\VS{29}I listened
{\ADD{while they asked this man questions and he answered them}}. The things
{\ADD{they}} accused him about were entirely concerned with their
{\ADD{Jewish}} laws. But Paul has not disobeyed any of our
{\ADD{Roman}} laws.
{\ADD{So our officials}} should not execute him or
{\ADD{even}} put him in prison [MTY].

\VS{30}{\ADD{Someone}} told me that some [SYN] Jews were secretly planning to kill this man, so I immediately am sending him to you,
{\ADD{so that you(sg) may give him a fair trial there}}. I have also
{\ADD{commanded}} the Jews who have accused him to
{\ADD{go there to Caesarea and}} tell you
{\ADD{(sg) what they are accusing him about}}.”


\par }{\PP \VS{31}So the soldiers did what
{\ADD{the commander commanded}} them,
{\ADD{taking this letter with them}}. They
{\ADD{got Paul and}} took him with them during the night
{\ADD{down}} to Antipatris
{\ADD{city}}.

\VS{32}The next day, the foot soldiers returned to the barracks
{\ADD{in Jerusalem}}, and the soldiers who rode horses went on with Paul.

\VS{33}When the men escorting Paul arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor, and they delivered Paul to the governor.
{\ADD{Then the horsemen returned to Jerusalem}}.

\VS{34}The governor read the letter, and then he said to Paul, “What province are you
{\ADD{(sg)}} from?”
{\ADD{Paul answered}}, “I am from Cilicia
{\ADD{province}}.”

\VS{35}Then the governor said, “When the people who have accused you
{\ADD{(sg)}} arrive, I will listen
{\ADD{to what each of you says}} and then I will judge your case.” Then he
{\ADD{commanded}} that Paul be guarded $\{${\ADD{soldiers}} to guard Paul$\}$ in the palace that King Herod
{\ADD{the Great had built}}.




\par }\Chap{24}{\SH Paul defended himself, and the governor Felix promised to judge him.
\par }
{\SR Acts 24:1-9

\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}Five days later Ananias the high priest,
{\ADD{having heard that Paul was now in Caesarea}}, went down
{\ADD{there from Jerusalem}}, along with some
{\ADD{other Jewish}} elders and a lawyer
{\ADD{whose name was}} Tertullus. There they formally told the governor what Paul had done
{\ADD{that they considered}} wrong.

\VS{2}{\ADD{The governor commanded}} Paul to be brought $\{${\ADD{a soldier}} to bring Paul$\}$ in.
{\ADD{When Paul arrived}}, Tertullus began to accuse him. He said
{\ADD{to the governor}}, “Honorable Governor Felix, during the many years that you
{\ADD{(sg)}} have ruled us, we
{\ADD{(exc)}} have lived well/peacefully. By planning wisely, you have improved many things in this province.

\VS{3}{\ADD{Therefore}}, sir, we
{\ADD{(exc)}} always gratefully acknowledge everything that
{\ADD{you have done}} for all
{\ADD{of us}}, wherever
{\ADD{you have done those things}}.

\VS{4}But, so that I will not take up too much of your time, I earnestly request that you kindly listen to me very briefly.

\VS{5}We
{\ADD{(exc)}} have observed that this man,
{\ADD{wherever he goes}}, causes trouble.
{\ADD{Specifically}}, he causes all the Jews everywhere [HYP] to riot.
{\ADD{Also}}, he leads the entire group
{\ADD{whom people call}} ‘the followers of the Nazarene’, a
{\ADD{false}} sect.

\VS{6}He even tried to do things in the Temple
{\ADD{in Jerusalem}} that would ◄defile it/make it unholy►. So we
{\ADD{(exc)}} seized him.

\VS{7}But Lysias, the commander at the Roman fort, came with his soldiers and forcefully took him away from us [SYN].

\VS{8}Lysias also commanded Paul’s accusers to come here and accuse Paul before you. If you question him yourself, you will be able to learn that all these things about which we are accusing him are true.”

\VS{9}When the Jewish
{\ADD{leaders who were listening heard that, they}} told
{\ADD{the governor that}} what Tertullus had said was true.


\par }{\SH Paul disproved what they had said, but admitted that he was a Christian.
\par }
{\SR Acts 24:10-21

\par }{\PP \VS{10}Then the governor motioned with
{\ADD{his hand to Paul that}} he should speak. So Paul replied. He said, “{\ADD{Governor Felix, I know that you(sg) have judged this Jewish}} province for many years. Therefore I gladly defend myself, confident
{\ADD{that you will listen to me and will judge me fairly}}.

\VS{11}You
{\ADD{(sg)}} can
{\ADD{easily}} ascertain that ◄it has not been more than twelve days since/only twelve days ago► I went up went up to Jerusalem to worship
{\ADD{God. That is not enough time to cause a lot of trouble}}.

\VS{12}No one
{\ADD{can claim legitimately that they}} saw me arguing with anyone at the Temple courts
{\ADD{because I did not do that. No one can claim legitimately that they saw me}} causing people to riot in
{\ADD{any Jewish meeting place}}, or causing trouble anywhere
{\ADD{else}} in
{\ADD{Jerusalem}} city,
{\ADD{because I did not do that}}.

\VS{13}So they cannot prove to you the things about which they are now accusing me.

\VS{14}But I admit to you
{\ADD{(sg) that this is true}}: I do worship the God that our ancestors
{\ADD{worshipped. It is true that}} I follow the way that
{\ADD{Jesus taught us}}. The Jewish leaders call that a false religion/teaching. I also believe everything that was written
{\ADD{by Moses}} $\{$that
{\ADD{Moses wrote}}$\}$ in the laws that
{\ADD{God gave him}}, and everything that was written by the
{\ADD{other}} prophets $\{$that the
{\ADD{other}} prophets wrote$\}$
{\ADD{in their books}} [MTY].

\VS{15}I confidently expect, just like
{\ADD{some of}} these men also expect, that
{\ADD{some day God}} will cause everyone who has died to become alive again. He will ◄cause to become alive again/raise from the dead► both those who were righteous and those who were wicked.

\VS{16}{\ADD{Because I am confidently waiting for that day}}, I always try to do what pleases God and what other people think is right.

\VS{17}After I
{\ADD{had been in other places for}} several years, I returned to Jerusalem. I went there to deliver some money to my fellow Jews
{\ADD{who are}} poor, and to offer sacrifices
{\ADD{to God}}.

\VS{18}Some
{\ADD{Jews}} saw me in the temple
{\ADD{courts}} after I had completed the ritual by which a person is made $\{$that makes a person$\}$ pure. There was no crowd with me, and I was not causing
{\ADD{people}} to riot.

\VS{19}But it was some
{\ADD{other}} Jews
{\ADD{who had come}} from Asia
{\ADD{province who really caused people to riot. They}} should be here in front of you
{\ADD{(sg)}} to accuse me, if they thought that I
{\ADD{did}} something
{\ADD{wrong}}.

\VS{20}{\ADD{But if they}} do not
{\ADD{want to do that}} (OR,
{\ADD{But because they}} are
{\ADD{not}} here), these
{\ADD{Jewish}} men who are here should tell you
{\ADD{(sg)}} what
{\ADD{they think}} I did that was wrong, when I
{\ADD{defended myself}} before their Council.

\VS{21}{\ADD{They might say that}} one thing that I shouted as I stood before them
{\ADD{was wrong. What I said}} was, ‘You are judging me today because I believe that
{\ADD{God}} will ◄cause
{\ADD{all people}} who have died to become alive again/raise
{\ADD{all people}} from the dead►.’ ”


\par }{\SH Governor Felix adjourned the trial.
\par }
{\SR Acts 24:22-23

\par }{\PP \VS{22}Felix already knew quite a lot about
{\ADD{what people called}} ‘the way
{\ADD{of Jesus’}}. But he did not let Paul or his accusers continue to speak.
{\ADD{Instead}}, he said
{\ADD{to them}}, “{\ADD{Later}}, when Commander Lysias comes down here, I will decide these matters that concern you all.”

\VS{23}Then he told the officer
{\ADD{who was guarding Paul}} to
{\ADD{take Paul back to the prison and}} make sure that he was guarded all the time. But he said that Paul was not to be chained $\{$that the officer was not to fasten chains on him$\}$, and if his friends came to visit him,
{\ADD{the officer}} should allow them to help Paul
{\ADD{in any way that they wished}}.


\par }{\SH Felix often talked to Paul, hoping that Paul would give him money.
\par }
{\SR Acts 24:24-27

\par }{\PP \VS{24}Several days later Felix and his wife Drusilla, who was a Jew, came
{\ADD{back to Caesarea after having been away for a few days}}. Felix
{\ADD{commanded}} Paul to be brought in $\{${\ADD{a soldier to}} bring Paul in$\}$. Then Felix listened to what Paul
{\ADD{said to him}}. Paul spoke about what
{\ADD{Christians}} believe about the Messiah Jesus.

\VS{25}Paul explained
{\ADD{to them about what God requires people}} to do in order to please him.
{\ADD{He also explained about God requiring people to}} control how they act.
{\ADD{Paul also told him that there will be a time when God}} will judge
{\ADD{people}}. Felix became alarmed
{\ADD{after hearing those things. So}} he said to Paul, “That is all I
{\ADD{want to hear}} now. When there is a time that is convenient I will ask you
{\ADD{(sg)}} to come
{\ADD{to me again}}.”

\VS{26}{\ADD{Felix said that because}} he hoped that Paul would give him some money
{\ADD{to allow Paul to get out of prison}}. So he repeatedly sent for Paul to come, and Paul
{\ADD{repeatedly went and}} talked with him.
{\ADD{But he}} did not
{\ADD{give Felix any money, and Felix did not command his soldiers to release Paul from prison}}.


\par }{\PP \VS{27}Felix let Paul remain in prison, because he wanted to please the Jewish
{\ADD{leaders and he knew that they did not want him to release Paul}}. But when two years had passed, Porcius Festus became governor in place of Felix.




\par }\Chap{25}{\SH Festus told the Jews to go and accuse Paul at Caesarea.
\par }
{\SR Acts 25:1-5

\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}Festus,
{\ADD{who was now the governor}} of the province, arrived in Caesarea, and three days later he went up to Jerusalem.

\VS{2}In Jerusalem, the chief priests and
{\ADD{other}} Jewish leaders formally told
{\ADD{Festus}} about
{\ADD{the things that they said}} that Paul
{\ADD{had done that were wrong}}.

\VS{3}They urgently asked Festus to do something for them.
{\ADD{They asked him to command soldiers}} to bring Paul to Jerusalem,
{\ADD{so that Festus could put him on trial there}}. But they were planning that some
{\ADD{of them}} would hide
{\ADD{near the road}} and wait
{\ADD{for Paul}} and kill him when he was traveling
{\ADD{to Jerusalem}}.

\VS{4}But Festus replied, “Paul is in Caesarea, and is being guarded $\{${\ADD{soldiers}} are guarding him$\}$
{\ADD{there}}. I myself will go down to Caesarea in a few days.

\VS{5}Choose some of your leaders to go there with me.
{\ADD{While they are there}}, they can accuse Paul of the wrong things that you say that he has done.”


\par }{\SH Paul appealed to Caesar, so Festus agreed to that.
\par }
{\SR Acts 25:6-12

\par }{\PP \VS{6}After Festus had been
{\ADD{in Jerusalem}} eight or ten days, he went back down to Caesarea.
{\ADD{Several of the Jewish leaders also went there}}. The next day Festus
{\ADD{commanded}} that Paul be brought $\{$someone to bring Paul$\}$ to him
{\ADD{in the assembly hall}} so that he could judge him.

\VS{7}{\ADD{After}} Paul was brought to
{\ADD{the assembly hall}}, the Jewish
{\ADD{leaders}} from Jerusalem gathered around him
{\ADD{to accuse him}}. They told
{\ADD{Festus}} that Paul had committed many crimes. But they could not prove
{\ADD{that Paul had done the things about which they accused him}}.

\VS{8}Then Paul
{\ADD{spoke}} to defend himself. He said to Festus, “I have done nothing wrong against the laws of us
{\ADD{(exc)}} Jews, and I have not disobeyed the rules concerning our Temple. I have also done nothing wrong against your government [MTY].”

\VS{9}But Festus wanted to please the Jewish
{\ADD{leaders, so}} he asked Paul, “Are you
{\ADD{(sg)}} willing to go up to Jerusalem so that I can listen as these men accuse you
{\ADD{there}}?”

\VS{10}But Paul
{\ADD{did not want to do that. So}} he said
{\ADD{to Festus}}, “{\ADD{No}}, I
{\ADD{am not willing to go to Jerusalem}}! I am
{\ADD{now}} standing before you, and you
{\ADD{(sg)}} are the judge
{\ADD{whom the Roman}} Emperor [MTY]
{\ADD{has authorized. This is the place}} where I should be judged $\{$where you should judge me$\}$. I have not wronged the Jewish people
{\ADD{at all}}, as you know very well.

\VS{11}If I had done something bad
{\ADD{for which I}} should be executed $\{${\ADD{concerning which the law said that they}} should execute me$\}$, I would not plead
{\ADD{with them that they}} not kill me. But none of these things about which they accuse me is
{\ADD{true, so}} no one can
{\ADD{legally}} surrender me to
{\ADD{these Jews}}. So I formally request that the emperor [MTY]
{\ADD{should judge me at Rome}}.”

\VS{12}Then after Festus conferred with the
{\ADD{men who regularly}} advised him, he replied to Paul, “You
{\ADD{(sg)}} have formally requested
{\ADD{that I should send you}} to the emperor
{\ADD{in Rome. So I will arrange for}} you to go there
{\ADD{in order that he can judge you}}.”


\par }{\SH Festus told King Agrippa about Paul.
\par }
{\SR Acts 25:13-22

\par }{\PP \VS{13}After several days, King
{\ADD{Herod}} Agrippa arrived at Caesarea, along with
{\ADD{his younger sister}} Bernice. They had come to
{\ADD{formally}} welcome Festus
{\ADD{as the new Governor of the province}}.

\VS{14}King Agrippa and Bernice stayed many days in Caesarea. While
{\ADD{they were}} there, Festus told Agrippa about Paul. He said to the king, “There is a man here whom Felix kept in prison
{\ADD{while he was governor}}. He left him
{\ADD{there when his time as governor ended}}.

\VS{15}When I went to Jerusalem, the chief priests and
{\ADD{the other}} Jewish elders told me that this man had done many things
{\ADD{against their laws}}. They asked me to condemn him
{\ADD{to be executed}} $\{$judge him
{\ADD{so that people could kill him}}$\}$.

\VS{16}But I told them that when someone has been accused
{\ADD{of a crime, we}} Romans do not immediately ◄condemn that person/declare that person to be guilty►. First, we
{\ADD{command}} him to stand before the people who are accusing him and to say whether or not he has done those things.
{\ADD{After that, the judge will decide what to do with}} him.

\VS{17}So those Jews came
{\ADD{here to Caesarea}} when I came. I did not delay. The day after
{\ADD{we(exc) arrived}}, after I sat down at the place where I make decisions, I
{\ADD{commanded}} that Paul be brought $\{${\ADD{soldiers}} to bring Paul$\}$ into
{\ADD{the courtroom}}.

\VS{18}The Jewish leaders did accuse him, but the things about which they accused him were not any of the
{\ADD{evil}} crimes about which I thought
{\ADD{they would accuse him}}.

\VS{19}Instead, what they argued about with him were some teachings that
{\ADD{some}} Jews believe
{\ADD{and others do not believe. They argued}} about a man whose name was Jesus who had died,
{\ADD{but the man they were accusing, whose name is}} Paul, kept saying, ‘Jesus is alive again.’

\VS{20}I did not know what questions to ask
{\ADD{them, and I did not know how to judge}} concerning their dispute. So I asked Paul, ‘Are you
{\ADD{(sg)}} willing to go
{\ADD{back}} to Jerusalem and have the dispute
{\ADD{between you and these Jews}} judged there $\{$and
{\ADD{let me}} judge there the dispute
{\ADD{between you and these Jews}}$\}$?’

\VS{21}But Paul answered, ‘{\ADD{No}}. I
{\ADD{am not willing to go to Jerusalem}}!


\par }{\PP \VS{22}Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.”


\par }{\SH Festus asked King Agrippa to tell him what to write to Caesar about Paul.
\par }
{\SR Acts 25:23-27

\par }{\PP \VS{23}The next day Agrippa and Bernice came very ceremoniously to the assembly hall. Some
{\ADD{Roman}} commanders and prominent men in
{\ADD{Caesarea}} came with them. Then, Festus told an officer to bring Paul. So after the officer
{\ADD{went to the prison and}} brought him,

\VS{24}Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all
{\ADD{the rest of you}} who are here, you see this man. Many [HYP] Jews in Jerusalem and also those here
{\ADD{in Caesarea}} appealed to me, screaming that we
{\ADD{(exc)}} should not let him live any longer.

\VS{25}But
{\ADD{when I asked them to tell me what he had done, and they told me}}, I found out that he had not done anything for which he should be executed $\{${\ADD{anyone should}} execute him$\}$. However, he has asked that our emperor
{\ADD{should judge his case}}, so I have decided to send him to Rome.

\VS{26}But I do not know what specifically I should write to the emperor concerning him. That is why I have brought him here. I
{\ADD{want}} you all
{\ADD{to hear him speak}}, and I especially want you
{\ADD{(sg)}}, King Agrippa, to hear him. Then, after we
{\ADD{(inc)}} have questioned him, I may know what I should write
{\ADD{to the emperor about him}}.

\VS{27}It seems to me
{\ADD{that it would be}} unreasonable to send a prisoner
{\ADD{to the emperor in Rome without my}} specifying the
{\ADD{things about which people}} are accusing him.”




\par }\Chap{26}{\SH Paul requested that his hearers would listen to him.
\par }
{\SR Acts 26:1-3

\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You
{\ADD{(sg)}} are permitted
{\ADD{now}} to speak
{\ADD{to defend}} yourself.” Paul stretched out his hand ◄{\ADD{dramatically/to salute the king}}► and began to defend himself. He said,

\VS{2}“King Agrippa, I consider that I am fortunate that today, while you
{\ADD{(sg)}} listen, I can defend myself from all the things about which the Jewish
{\ADD{leaders}} [SYN] are accusing me.

\VS{3}I am really fortunate, because you
{\ADD{(sg)}} know all about the customs of us Jews and the questions that we
{\ADD{(exc)}} argue about. So I ask you, please listen patiently to what I say.”


\par }{\SH Paul told about being a Pharisee who believed that God would resurrect people.
\par }
{\SR Acts 26:4-8

\par }{\PP \VS{4}“Many [HYP] of my fellow Jews know about how I have conducted my life, from the time I was a child. They know how I lived in the area where I
{\ADD{was born}} and
{\ADD{also later}} in Jerusalem.

\VS{5}They have known for many years, and they could tell you, if they wanted to, that
{\ADD{since I was very young}} I obeyed the customs of our religion very carefully, just like the
{\ADD{other}} Pharisees do.

\VS{6}Today I am being put on trial $\{${\ADD{they}} are putting me on trial$\}$ because I am confidently expecting that God will do what he promised our
{\ADD{(exc)}} ancestors.

\VS{7}Our twelve tribes are
{\ADD{also}} confidently waiting for God to do
{\ADD{for us what he promised}}, as they respectfully worship him, day and night.
{\ADD{Respected}} king, I confidently expect
{\ADD{that God will do what he promised, and they also believe that! But that is the reason}} that these Jewish leaders [SYN] are accusing me!

\VS{8}They believe that God can cause those who have died to become alive again, so ◄why
{\ADD{do any of you refuse to believe that he raised Jesus from the dead?/none of you should refuse to believe that he raised Jesus from the dead!}}► [RHQ]”


\par }{\SH Paul told about how he had persecuted Christians.
\par }
{\SR Acts 26:9-11

\par }{\PP \VS{9}“{\ADD{Formerly}} I, too, was sure that I should do everything that I could to oppose Jesus [MTY], the man from Nazareth
{\ADD{town}}.

\VS{10}So that is what I did
{\ADD{when I lived}} in Jerusalem. I put many of the believers in jail, as the chief priests there had authorized me
{\ADD{to do}}. When
{\ADD{the Jewish leaders wanted}} those Christians killed $\{$someone to kill those
{\ADD{Christians}}$\}$, I voted
{\ADD{for that}}.

\VS{11}Many times I punished the believers
{\ADD{whom I found}} in Jewish meeting places.
{\ADD{By punishing them}}, I tried to force them to speak evil
{\ADD{about Jesus}}. I was so angry with the followers of Jesus that I even traveled to other cities to
{\ADD{find them and}} do things to harm them.”


\par }{\SH Paul told how he had become a believer in Jesus.
\par }
{\SR Acts 26:12-18

\par }{\PP \VS{12}“{\ADD{One day}}, I was on my way to Damascus
{\ADD{city}} to do that. The chief priests
{\ADD{in Jerusalem}} had authorized and sent me
{\ADD{to seize the believers there}}.

\VS{13}{\ADD{My respected}} king,
{\ADD{while I was going}} along the road, at about noon I saw a
{\ADD{bright}} light in the sky. It was even brighter than the sun! It shone all around me, and also around the men who were traveling with me.

\VS{14}We
{\ADD{(exc)}} all fell to the ground. Then I heard the voice of someone speaking to me in my own Hebrew language [MTY]. He said ‘Saul, Saul, ◄stop causing me to suffer!/why are you causing me to suffer?► [RHQ] You
{\ADD{(sg)}} are
{\ADD{hurting yourself by trying to hurt me}} [MET],
{\ADD{like an ox}} kicking against
{\ADD{its owner’s}} goad.’

\VS{15}Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The Lord said to me, ‘I am Jesus. You
{\ADD{(sg)}} are harming me
{\ADD{by harming my followers}}.

\VS{16}But instead
{\ADD{of continuing to do that}}, stand up now! I have appeared to you
{\ADD{(sg)}} to tell you that I have chosen you to serve me. You must tell people about
{\ADD{what I am showing you}} as you are seeing me
{\ADD{now}}, and about what I
{\ADD{will show you when}} I will
{\ADD{later}} appear to you.

\VS{17}I will protect you
{\ADD{from those who will try to harm you, both}} your own people and
{\ADD{also}} those who are not Jewish. I am sending you to non-Jews

\VS{18}to help them to realize [MTY] what is true and to stop believing what is false [MET]. I am sending you to them so that they may let God control them and not let Satan control them any more.
{\ADD{Then God}} will forgive their sins and will accept them as his people because they believe in me.’
{\ADD{That is what Jesus said to me}}.”


\par }{\SH Paul said that he obeyed what Jesus commanded him from heaven.
\par }
{\SR Acts 26:19-20

\par }{\PP \VS{19}“So, King Agrippa, I fully obeyed [LIT] what
{\ADD{the Lord Jesus told me to do when he spoke to me}} from heaven.

\VS{20}First, I preached to
{\ADD{the Jews}} in Damascus. Then I
{\ADD{preached to the Jews}} in Jerusalem and throughout
{\ADD{the rest of}} Judea
{\ADD{province}}. After that, I also preached to non-Jews. I preached that they must turn away from their sinful behavior and turn their lives over to God. I told them that they must do things that would show that they had truly stopped their sinful behavior.”


\par }{\SH Paul said that he proclaimed what the prophets had written about the Messiah.
\par }
{\SR Acts 26:21-23

\par }{\PP \VS{21}“It is because I
{\ADD{preached}} this message
{\ADD{that some}} [SYN] Jews seized me
{\ADD{when I was}} in the Temple
{\ADD{courtyard and}} tried to kill me.

\VS{22}However, God has been helping me
{\ADD{from that time, and he is still helping me}} today. So I stand here and I tell
{\ADD{all of you people}}, those who are important and those who are not,
{\ADD{who Jesus is}}. Everything that I say
{\ADD{about him}} is what Moses and the
{\ADD{other}} prophets wrote
{\ADD{about long ago, things that they said}} would happen.

\VS{23}They wrote that
{\ADD{people would cause}} the Messiah to suffer and die. They also wrote that he would be the first person to become alive again, to proclaim
{\ADD{the message that would be like}} light,
{\ADD{that he would save}} both
{\ADD{his own Jewish}} people and non-Jewish people.”


\par }{\SH Paul talked to Festus and Agrippa, urging them to become believers in Jesus.
\par }
{\SR Acts 26:24-29

\par }{\PP \VS{24}Before Paul could say anything
{\ADD{further}} to defend himself, Festus shouted: “Paul, you are crazy! You have studied too much, and it has made you insane!”

\VS{25}But Paul answered, “Your Excellency, Festus, I am not raving
{\ADD{insanely}}. On the contrary, what I am saying is true and sensible!

\VS{26}King Agrippa knows the things
{\ADD{that I have been talking about}}, and I can speak confidently to him
{\ADD{about them}}. I am sure that he knows [LIT] these things, because people everywhere [IDM] have heard [LIT] about what happened
{\ADD{to Jesus}}.”

\VS{27}Then Paul asked, “King Agrippa, do you believe
{\ADD{what}} the prophets
{\ADD{wrote}}? I know that you
{\ADD{(sg)}} believe it.”

\VS{28}Then Agrippa
{\ADD{answered}} Paul, “◄{\ADD{I hope that you(sg)}} do not think that by the few things
{\ADD{that you have just now said}} you can persuade me to become a Christian!/You do not think,
{\ADD{do you}}, that by the few things
{\ADD{that you have just now said}} you can persuade me to become a Christian?►” [RHQ]

\VS{29}Paul replied, “Whether it takes a short time or a long time, it does not matter. I pray to God that you and also all of the others who are listening to me today will also
{\ADD{believe in Jesus}} like I do, but I do not want you to become prisoners [MTY]
{\ADD{like I am}}.”


\par }{\SH The officials said that Paul was innocent but must go to Rome.
\par }
{\SR Acts 26:30-32

\par }{\PP \VS{30}Then the king, the governor, Bernice, and all the others got up

\VS{31}and left
{\ADD{the room. While}} they were talking to one another they said to each other, “There is no reason why ◄the authorities/we► should execute this man, or that he should even be kept in prison [MTY].”

\VS{32}Agrippa said to Festus, “If this man had not asked that the Emperor judge him, he could have been released $\{${\ADD{we(inc)}} could have released him$\}$.”




\par }\Chap{27}{\SH Paul and other prisoners sailed from Caesarea to Crete.
\par }
{\SR Acts 27:1-8

\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}When
{\ADD{the Governor and those who advised him}} decided that it was time for us
{\ADD{(exc)}} to get on a ship and go to Italy, they put Paul and some other prisoners into the hands/care of an army captain whose name was Julius.
{\ADD{He was the one who would guard us on the journey}}. Julius was
{\ADD{an officer}} in charge of
{\ADD{a group of}} 100
{\ADD{soldiers that people called}} ‘the Emperor Augustus Group’.

\VS{2}So we got on a ship that had come from Adramyttium
{\ADD{city in Asia province. The ship}} was going to
{\ADD{return there, stopping at}} cities along the coast of Asia
{\ADD{province}}. Aristarchus,
{\ADD{a fellow believer who was}} from Thessalonica
{\ADD{city}} in Macedonia
{\ADD{province}}, went with us.

\VS{3}The day after
{\ADD{the ship sailed}}, we arrived at Sidon
{\ADD{city}}. Julius kindly told Paul that he could go and see his friends
{\ADD{who lived there}}, so that they could give him whatever he might need.
{\ADD{So Paul visited the believers there}}.

\VS{4}Then the ship left
{\ADD{Sidon}}, but the winds were blowing against us
{\ADD{(exc)}}, so
{\ADD{the ship}} went along
{\ADD{the north}} side of Cyprus
{\ADD{Island}}, the side that is sheltered
{\ADD{from the wind}}.

\VS{5}After that, we crossed over the sea close to the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia
{\ADD{provinces. The ship}} arrived at Myra
{\ADD{city, which is}} in Lycia
{\ADD{province}}.
{\ADD{We got off the ship there}}.

\VS{6}In Myra,
{\ADD{people told}} Julius that a ship
{\ADD{was there that had come}} from Alexandria
{\ADD{city}} and would
{\ADD{soon}} sail to Italy. So he arranged for us to get
{\ADD{on that ship}},
{\ADD{and we left}}.

\VS{7}We sailed slowly for several days and finally arrived close to the coast
{\ADD{of Asia province}}, near Cnidus
{\ADD{town. After that}}, the wind
{\ADD{was very strong and}} did not allow the ship to move straight ahead
{\ADD{westward. So instead}}, we sailed
{\ADD{southward}} along the side of Crete
{\ADD{Island that is}} sheltered
{\ADD{from the wind}}, and we passed
{\ADD{near Cape}} Salmone.

\VS{8}{\ADD{The wind was still strong, and it prevented the ship from moving ahead fast}}. So we moved slowly along the coast
{\ADD{of Crete}}, and we arrived at a harbor that was called Fair Havens, near Lasea
{\ADD{town}}.


\par }{\SH Paul warned them not to travel on, but the ship’s officials decided to go on anyway.
\par }
{\SR Acts 27:9-20

\par }{\PP \VS{9}Much time had passed, so it would have been dangerous if we
{\ADD{(exc)}} had traveled
{\ADD{farther}} by ship
{\ADD{because after that time of the year}} [MTY]
{\ADD{the sea often became very stormy}}. So Paul said to the men
{\ADD{on the ship}},

\VS{10}“Men, I perceive that
{\ADD{if we(inc) travel by ship}} now, it will be disastrous for us. A storm may destroy the ship and the cargo, and possibly we will drown.”

\VS{11}But the officer
{\ADD{did not listen to}} what Paul said. Instead, he decided to do what the pilot
{\ADD{of the ship}} and the owner of the ship advised.

\VS{12}The harbor where the ship had stopped was not a good place to remain during the winter
{\ADD{when the weather frequently becomes stormy. So most of the people on the ship decided that we(exc) should leave there, because they hoped that we}} could stay at Phoenix
{\ADD{port}} during the winter, if we could possibly arrive there. That harbor was open to the sea in two directions,
{\ADD{but the strong winds did not blow there}}.

\VS{13}Then a gentle wind began to blow
{\ADD{from the south}}, and the
{\ADD{crew members}} thought that they could travel as they had decided
{\ADD{to do. So}} they lifted
{\ADD{the anchor up out of the sea}}, and the ship sailed
{\ADD{westward}} along the
{\ADD{southern}} shore of Crete
{\ADD{Island}}.

\VS{14}But after a while, a wind that was very strong blew across the island
{\ADD{from the north side and hit the ship. That wind was called}} $\{${\ADD{People}} called that wind$\}$ “the Northeast Wind.”

\VS{15}It blew strongly against the
{\ADD{front of}} the ship. The result was that we could not keep going in the direction
{\ADD{in which we had been going}}. So the sailors let the wind move the ship in the direction
{\ADD{that the wind}} was blowing.

\VS{16}The ship then passed a small island named Cauda. We passed along the side
{\ADD{of the island that}} sheltered
{\ADD{the ship from the wind}}. Then
{\ADD{while the ship was moving along}}, the sailors lifted the lifeboat up
{\ADD{out of the water}} and tied it
{\ADD{on the deck. But the strong wind made it}} difficult even to do that.

\VS{17-18}After the sailors
{\ADD{hoisted/lifted}} the lifeboat onto the ship, they tied ropes around the ship’s hull to strengthen the ship. The sailors were afraid that,
{\ADD{because the wind was pushing the ship}}, it might run onto the sandbanks off the coast of Libya to the south
{\ADD{and get stuck there. So}} they lowered the largest sail
{\ADD{so that the ship would move slower. Even so}}, the wind continued to move the ship along.
{\ADD{The wind and the waves}} continued to toss the ship about roughly, so on the next day the sailors began to throw overboard the things that the ship was carrying.

\VS{19}On the third
{\ADD{day after the stormy wind had begun to blow}}, the sailors/we [MTY] threw overboard
{\ADD{most of}} the sails, ropes, and poles,
{\ADD{in order to make the ship lighter}}.

\VS{20}The wind continued to blow very strongly,
{\ADD{and the sky was full of dark clouds}} day and night. We could not see the sun or the stars for many days,
{\ADD{so we could not determine where we were. And the wind}} continued to blow violently. So we
{\ADD{(exc)}} finally thought that we would drown in the sea.


\par }{\SH Paul told them that an angel from God said that they would all survive.
\par }
{\SR Acts 27:21-26

\par }{\PP \VS{21}None of us on the ship had eaten for many days.
{\ADD{Then one day}}, Paul stood up in front of us and said, “{\ADD{Friends}}, you should have listened to me
{\ADD{when I said}} that we
{\ADD{(inc)}} should not sail from Crete. Then we would have been safe, and the ship and its cargo would be in good condition [LIT].

\VS{22}But now, I urge you, do not be afraid, because none of us will die.
{\ADD{The storm}} will destroy the ship but not us.

\VS{23}I
{\ADD{know this}}, because last night God, the one to whom I belong and whom I serve,
{\ADD{sent}} an angel
{\ADD{who came and}} stood by me.

\VS{24}The angel said to me, ‘Paul, do not be afraid! You
{\ADD{(sg)}} must
{\ADD{go to Rome}} and stand before the Emperor there
{\ADD{so that he can judge you}}. I want you to know that God has made it clear to me that all those who are traveling by ship with you
{\ADD{will also survive}}.’

\VS{25}So cheer up,
{\ADD{my}} friends, because I believe that God will make this happen, exactly as
{\ADD{the angel}} told me.

\VS{26}However,
{\ADD{the ship}} will crash on some island,
{\ADD{and}} we
{\ADD{(inc)}} will go ashore
{\ADD{there}}.”


\par }{\SH Paul thwarted some sailors who tried to sneak ashore in the lifeboat.
\par }
{\SR Acts 27:27-32

\par }{\PP \VS{27}On the fourteenth night
{\ADD{after the storm had begun, the ship}} was still being blown $\{$the wind was still blowing
{\ADD{the ship}}$\}$ across the Adriatic sea. About midnight, the sailors sensed that the ship was getting close to land.

\VS{28}So they lowered
{\ADD{a weight on a rope}} to measure how deep
{\ADD{the water was}}. When they pulled the rope up again, they measured it and saw that the water was ◄120 ft./37 meters► deep. They went a little farther and lowered the rope again.
{\ADD{That time}}, they saw that the water was
{\ADD{only}} about ◄90 ft./28 meters► deep.

\VS{29}They were afraid that the
{\ADD{ship}} might go onto some rocks, so they threw out four anchors from the
{\ADD{ship’s}} stern/back and continued to wish/pray that it would soon be dawn
{\ADD{so that they could see where the ship was going}}.

\VS{30}Some of the sailors were planning to escape from the ship, so they lowered the lifeboat into the sea. In order
{\ADD{that no one would know what they planned to do}}, they pretended
{\ADD{that}} they wanted to lower some anchors from the
{\ADD{ship’s}} front/bow.

\VS{31}But Paul said to the army officer and soldiers, “If the sailors do not stay in the ship, you have no hope of being saved.”

\VS{32}So the soldiers cut the ropes and let the lifeboat fall into the water.


\par }{\SH Paul urged them to eat some food, so they did and then lightened the ship.
\par }
{\SR Acts 27:33-38

\par }{\PP \VS{33}Just before dawn, Paul urged everyone
{\ADD{on the ship}} to eat some food. He said, “For the past 14 days you have been waiting and watching and not eating anything.

\VS{34}So,
{\ADD{now}} I urge you to eat some food. We
{\ADD{(inc)}} need to do that in order to stay alive. I
{\ADD{tell you to do that because I know that}} none of you will drown [IDM].”

\VS{35}After Paul had said that, while everyone was watching, he took some bread and thanked God
{\ADD{for it. Then he broke the bread and began to eat some of it}}.

\VS{36}The
{\ADD{rest of us}} became encouraged, so we
{\ADD{(exc)}} all ate some food.

\VS{37}Altogether there were 276 of us [SYN] on the ship.

\VS{38}When everyone had eaten as much as they wanted, they threw the grain
{\ADD{that the ship was carrying}} into the sea, and this made the ship lighter.


\par }{\SH The waves began to break up the ship after it struck a shoal.
\par }
{\SR Acts 27:39-41

\par }{\PP \VS{39}At dawn,
{\ADD{we(exc) could see}} land,
{\ADD{but the sailors}} did not recognize
{\ADD{the place}}. However, they could see that there was a bay and
{\ADD{a wide area of}} sand at the water’s edge. They planned that, if it was possible, they would steer the ship onto
{\ADD{the beach}}.

\VS{40}{\ADD{So some of the sailors}} cut the anchor
{\ADD{ropes and}} let the anchors fall into the sea. At the same time,
{\ADD{other sailors}} untied the
{\ADD{ropes that}} fastened the rudders,
{\ADD{so that they could steer the ship again}}. Then
{\ADD{the sailors}} raised the sail at the front/bow of the ship so that the wind
{\ADD{would blow the ship forward}}, and the ship headed towards the shore.

\VS{41}But the ship hit a sandbank. The front of the ship stuck there and could not move, and big waves beat against the back of the ship and it began to break apart.


\par }{\SH The officer saved Paul and commanded all to go to the shore, so they did that.
\par }
{\SR Acts 27:42-44

\par }{\PP \VS{42}The soldiers said
{\ADD{to one another, “Let’s}} kill
{\ADD{all}} the prisoners
{\ADD{on the ship}}, so that they will not
{\ADD{be able to}} swim
{\ADD{away and}} escape.”
{\ADD{They planned to do that because they were sure}} that officials
{\ADD{would order them to be executed if they let the prisoners escape}}.

\VS{43}But
{\ADD{Julius}}, the army captain, wanted to save Paul, so he stopped the soldiers from doing what they planned to do. Instead, he
{\ADD{commanded}} first that everyone who could swim should jump into the water and swim to land.

\VS{44}{\ADD{Then he told}} the others
{\ADD{to hold}} onto planks or pieces from the ship
{\ADD{and go towards shore. We(exc) did what he said, and}} in that way all of us arrived safely on land.




\par }\Chap{28}{\SH The Maltese thought that Paul was a god because a snake did not harm him.
\par }
{\SR Acts 28:1-6

\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}After we
{\ADD{(exc)}} had arrived safely
{\ADD{on the shore}}, we learned that it was an island called Malta.

\VS{2}The people who lived there received us kindly. They lit a fire and invited us to come and warm ourselves, because it was raining and it was cold.

\VS{3}Paul gathered some sticks and put them on the fire. But
{\ADD{among those sticks was}} a snake that had come out
{\ADD{from the fire to escape}} from the heat, and it fastened itself on Paul’s hand.

\VS{4}{\ADD{The islanders knew that the snake was poisonous, so}} when they saw it hanging from Paul’s hand, they said to each other, “Probably this man has murdered someone. Although he has escaped from being drowned,
{\ADD{the god}} ◄{\ADD{who}} pays
{\ADD{people back/who punishes people}}► for their [MTY] sins will cause him to die.”

\VS{5}But Paul simply shook the snake off into the fire, and nothing happened to him.

\VS{6}The people were expecting that Paul’s body would soon swell up or that he would suddenly fall down and die. But after they had waited a long time, they saw
{\ADD{that the snake}} had not harmed him
{\ADD{at all}}. So then the people changed their minds and said
{\ADD{to one another}}, “This man is not a murderer! Probably he is a god!”


\par }{\SH Paul healed many Maltese, so they supplied what he and the others needed.
\par }
{\SR Acts 28:7-10

\par }{\PP \VS{7}Near where the people had made the fire, there were some fields that belonged to a man whose name was Publius. He was the chief official on the island. He invited us to
{\ADD{come and stay in}} his home. He took care of us for three days.

\VS{8}{\ADD{At that time}} Publius’ father had a fever and dysentery, and he was lying
{\ADD{in bed}}. So Paul visited him and prayed
{\ADD{for him. Then}} Paul placed his hands on him and healed him.

\VS{9}After Paul had done that, the other people on the island who were sick came
{\ADD{to him}} and
{\ADD{he}} healed them, too.

\VS{10}They brought us gifts and
{\ADD{showed in other ways that}} they greatly respected us. When we were
{\ADD{ready}} to leave
{\ADD{three months later}}, they brought us food and other things that we would need
{\ADD{for the trip}}.


\par }{\SH Paul and the others sailed to Puteoli, then went by land towards Rome.
\par }
{\SR Acts 28:11-14

\par }{\PP \VS{11}After
{\ADD{we had stayed there}} three months, we
{\ADD{got on}} a ship
{\ADD{that was going to Italy and}} sailed away. The ship had been in
{\ADD{a harbor on}} the island during the months when there are many storms. It had come from Alexandria
{\ADD{city}}. On the front of the ship there were carved images of the twin gods
{\ADD{whose names were Castor and Pollux}}.

\VS{12}We
{\ADD{sailed from the island and}} arrived at Syracuse
{\ADD{city on Sicily island}} and stayed there three days.

\VS{13}Then we traveled on by ship and arrived at Rhegium
{\ADD{port in Italy}}. The next day, the wind was blowing from behind us,
{\ADD{so we sailed along fast}}. The day after that, we reached Puteoli
{\ADD{town, where we left the ship}}.

\VS{14}In Puteoli we met some believers who invited us to stay with them for a week.
{\ADD{After visiting them}}, we
{\ADD{left there and started to travel by land}} to Rome.


\par }{\SH Christians came out from Rome and escorted Paul into that city.
\par }
{\SR Acts 28:15-16

\par }{\PP \VS{15}{\ADD{A group of}} believers
{\ADD{who lived in Rome}} had heard that we
{\ADD{(exc) were coming}}. So they came out
{\ADD{from Rome}} to meet us.
{\ADD{Some of}} them met us at
{\ADD{the town called}} ‘The Market on Appian
{\ADD{Road’,}} and others met us at
{\ADD{the town called}} ‘The Three Inns’. When Paul saw those believers, he thanked God and was encouraged.

\VS{16}After we
{\ADD{(exc)}} arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted $\{${\ADD{a Roman official who was responsible for guarding Paul}} permitted Paul$\}$ to live
{\ADD{in a house}} by himself. But
{\ADD{there was always}} a soldier there to guard him.


\par }{\SH The Jewish leaders asked Paul to tell them about Christianity.
\par }
{\SR Acts 28:17-22

\par }{\PP \VS{17}After
{\ADD{Paul had been there}} three days, he sent a message to the Jewish leaders
{\ADD{to come and talk with him. So}} they came, and Paul said to them, “My fellow Jews, although I have not opposed our people nor spoken against the customs of our ancestors,
{\ADD{our leaders}} in Jerusalem
{\ADD{seized}} [MTY]
{\ADD{me. But before they could kill me, a Roman commander rescued me and later sent me}} to Caesarea for Roman
{\ADD{authorities/officials to put me on trial}}.

\VS{18}The Roman authorities/officials questioned me and wanted to release me, because I had not done any
{\ADD{bad}} thing for which I should be executed $\{$they should kill me$\}$.

\VS{19}But when the Jewish
{\ADD{leaders}} [SYN] there opposed
{\ADD{what the Roman authorities wanted to do}}, I had to formally request that the Emperor
{\ADD{judge me here in Rome}}. But my reason for doing that was not that I wanted to accuse our leaders about anything.

\VS{20}So I have requested you
{\ADD{to come}} here so that I can tell you why I am a prisoner. It is because I believe in [MTY] our Messiah, the one
{\ADD{God long ago promised to send}} to us
{\ADD{(inc)}} Jews.”

\VS{21}Then
{\ADD{the Jewish leaders}} said, “We
{\ADD{(exc)}} have not received any letters from
{\ADD{our fellow Jews}} in Judea about you. Also, none of our fellow Jews who have arrived
{\ADD{here from Judea}} has said anything bad about you.

\VS{22}But we
{\ADD{(exc)}} want to hear what you
{\ADD{(sg)}} think about this
{\ADD{Christian}} sect/group, because we know that in many places [HYP] bad things are being said $\{$people are saying bad things$\}$ about it.”


\par }{\SH Paul told the Jews that non-Jews would believe the gospel.
\par }
{\SR Acts 28:23-31

\par }{\PP \VS{23}So they
{\ADD{talked with Paul and decided that they would come back on another day to hear him. When that day arrived}}, those Jews came back to the place where Paul was staying, and they brought more Jews with them. Paul talked to them from morning until evening. He talked to them about how God wants to rule
{\ADD{people’s lives}} [MET]. He tried to convince them that Jesus
{\ADD{is the Messiah}} by reminding them what Moses and the other prophets had written [MTY].

\VS{24}Some of those Jews believed that what was said
{\ADD{by Paul}} $\{$what
{\ADD{Paul}} said$\}$ about Jesus
{\ADD{was true}}, but others did not believe
{\ADD{that it was true}}.

\VS{25}So they began to argue with one another.
{\ADD{Paul realized that some of them did not want to listen to him, so}} when they were about to leave, he said, “The Holy Spirit said something to your/our(incl) ancestors. He spoke these words to Isaiah the prophet,
{\ADD{and what he said is also true about you}}:


\par }{\Q \VS{26}Go to your fellow Israelites and tell them,

\par }{\Q ‘You repeatedly listen
{\ADD{to the message of God}}, but you never understand
{\ADD{what God is saying}}.

\par }{\Q You repeatedly look at and see
{\ADD{the things that God is doing}},

\par }{\Q but you never understand
{\ADD{what they mean}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{27}God also said to the prophet,

\par }{\Q These people do not understand, because they have become stubborn.

\par }{\Q They have ears, but they do not understand what they hear,

\par }{\Q and they have closed their eyes
{\ADD{because they do not want to see}}.

\par }{\Q If they wanted to obey what I say to them, they might understand what they see
{\ADD{me doing}} and what they hear
{\ADD{me saying}}.

\par }{\Q Then they might turn from their sinful behavior and I would save them.’


\par }{\PP \VS{28-29}{\ADD{That is what God said to the prophet Isaiah about our ancestors. But you Jews today do not want to believe God’s message}}. Therefore, I am telling you that
{\ADD{God}} has sent to the non-Jews this message about how he saves people, and they will listen
{\ADD{and accept it}}!”


\par }{\PP \VS{30}For two whole years Paul stayed
{\ADD{there}} in a house that he rented. Many people came to see him, and he received them all gladly
{\ADD{and talked with them}}.

\VS{31}He preached
{\ADD{and taught people}} about how God could rule
{\ADD{their lives}} [MET] and taught them about the Lord Jesus Christ. He did that without being afraid, and no one tried to stop him.


\par }