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fore, lest that come upon you which is spoken of in the prophets; "Be- 41 hold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you."

Most of the Jews re

AND when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, 42 ject the gospel, and the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached nabas from the city, to them the next sabbath. Now, when the congregation 43

expel Paul and Bar

for preaching to the was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes Gentiles. followed Paul and Barnabas; who speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. And the next sabbath- 44 day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. But 45 when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary 46 that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles: for so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, 47 "I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth." And when the Gentiles heard this, 48 they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was pub- 49 lished throughout all the region. But the Jews stirred up the devout 50 and honorable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Ico- 51 nium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Ghost. 52 AND it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both 14

Having come to

the people, and they

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Iconium, the en- together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, vious Jews excite, that a great multitude, both of the Jews, and also of the depart to Lystra, and Greeks, believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up then to Derbe. the Gentiles, and made their minds evil-affected against the brethren. Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. But the multitude of the city 4 was divided and part held with the Jews, and part with the Apostles. And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of 5 the Jews, with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them, they were aware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, 6 and unto the region that lieth round about: and there they preached the 7 gospel.

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at Lystra, they were

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And he 10

AND there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his 8 was performed while feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never about to receive di- had walked. The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. leaped and walked. And when the people saw what Paul had done, 11 they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men!' And they called Barnabas, 12 Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. Then 13 the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. Which when the Apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their 14 clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,' and saying, Sirs, why 15do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you, that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are

therein: who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways: 16 nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and 17 gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. And with these sayings scarce restrained they 18

the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.

Through the in

Paul is stoned, but

AND there came thither certain Jews from Antioch, 19 fluence of the Jews, and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and having stoned revives and departs Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been with Barnabas to dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, 20 Derbe.] he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

sail to Antioch in

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They retrace their AND when they had preached the gospel to that city, 21 journey through and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and Pisidia, and Pamphylia, and thence to Iconium, and to Antioch, 'confirming the souls of the 22 passing to Attalia, disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, Syria. and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.' And when they had ordained them elders in 23 every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. And after they had passed through- 24 out Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. And when they had preached the 25 word in Perga, they went down into Attalia: and thence sailed to An- 26 tioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God, for the work which they fulfilled. And when they were come, and had 27 gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. there they abode long time with the disciples.

A difficulty arising

the ceremonial law,

And 28

AND certain men which came down from Judea, taught 15 at Antioch about the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after they are delegated' the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. When there- 2 to Jerusalem. fore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the Apostles and elders about this question. And being brought on their way by the church, 3 they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. And when 4 they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the Apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees, which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

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AND the Apostles and elders came together to con- 6 The church debates and decides the sider of this matter. And when there had been much dis- 7 matter. puting, Peter rose up and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago, God made choice among us, that the Gentiles, by my mouth, should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving 8 them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us: and put no difference be- 9 tween us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why 10 tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe, that through the 11 grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall be saved, even as they. Then 12 all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. And after they had held their peace, James answered, 13 saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me. Simon hath declared how 14 God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for

his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 15 "After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David 16 which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the 17 Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things."--Known unto God are all his works from the beginning 18 of the world.--Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, 19 which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: but that we write 20 unto them that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses of old time hath 21 in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath-day.

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select persons, whom

The church sends a THEN pleased it the Apostles, and elders, with the whole 22 letter to Antioch by church, to send chosen men of their own company to AnPaul and Barnabas tioch, with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: ' and 23 they wrote letters by them after this manner:

accompany.

THE Apostles, and elders, and brethren, send greeting unto the breth'ren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia. For- 24 'asmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us, have 'troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be cir'cumcised, and keep the law; to whom we gave no such commandment: 'it seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen 25 men unto you, with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, ' men that have 26 'hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have 27 'sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay 28 'upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; that ye ab- 29 'stain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall 'do well. Fare ye well.'

So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they 30 had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle. Which 31 when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation. And Judas and 32 Silas being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. And after they had tarried there a space, they 33 were let go in peace from the brethren unto the Apostles. Notwithstand- 34 ing, it pleased Silas to abide there still. Paul also and Barnabas con- 35 tinued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

Paul separates from
Barnabas, (who

takes Mark and goes

Silas passes over

tra, where he finds

associates with him.

AND some days after, Paul said unto Barnabas, Let 36 us go again and visit our brethren, in every city where we to Cyprus) and with have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they Syria and Cilicia: do. And Barnabas determined to take with them John, 37 visits Derbe and Lys-whose surname was Mark. But Paul thought not good 38 Timothy, whom he to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. And 39 the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus. And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren 40 unto the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirm- 41 ing the churches. Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and behold, a 16 certain disciple was there, named Timotheus; the son of a certain woman which was a Jewess; and believed, but his father was a Greek: who was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Ico- 2

nium. Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and cir- 3 cumcised him, because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek. And as they went through 4 the cities, they delivered them the decrees, to keep, that were ordained of the Apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem. And so were the 5 churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

Passing through

are admonished by

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Now, when they had gone throughout Phrygia, and the Pri Galau region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost and Mysia, they come to Troas; and to preach the word in Asia; after they were come to a vision to go over Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit into Macedonia. suffered them not. And they passing by Mysia, came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we en- 10 deavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering, that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel unto them.

where Lydia is

converted.

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They visit Neapolis; THEREFORE loosing from Troas, we came with a straight 11 and then Philippi, Course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis; and from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of 12 that part of Macedonia, and a colony and we were in that city abiding certain days. And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river 13 side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women who resorted thither. And a certain woman named Lydia, a 14 seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, who worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, 15 she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us. Paul cures a pos- AND it came to pass as we went to prayer, a certain 16 sessed girl. He and damsel possessed with a spirit of divination, met us, who

Silas cast into

prison. brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: the same 17 followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation. And this 18 did she many days. But Paul being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. And when her masters saw that the 19 hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the market-place unto the rulers, and brought them to the magistrates, 20 saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, and 21 teach customs which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. And the multitude rose up together against them and 22 the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And 23 when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely. Who having received such a 24 charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

converted and bap

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An earthquake at AND at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang 25 midnight. The jailor praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And 26 tized. Paul and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the founSilas liberated. dations of the prison were shaken and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. And the 27 keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison-doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, 28, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, 29 and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas;

lonica, but, driven of the Jews, go to

thence by a tumult

Berea. Paul, driven from Berea by the

malice of the Jews, (Silas and Timothy remaining) goes to Athens.

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'and brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 'And 30' they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to 32 all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the 33 night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before 34 them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. And when it 35 was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, Let those men go. And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates 36 have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace. But 37 Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly, uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay, verily; but let them come themselves, and fetch us out. And the sergeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared 38 when they heard that they were Romans. And they came and besought 39 them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city. And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: 40 and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed. NOW when they had passed through Amphipolis, and 17 They go to ThessaApollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul, as his manner was, went 2 in unto them, and three sabbath-days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, 'opening and alleging, that Christ 3 must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.' And, some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas: and 4 of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. But the Jews who believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. And when they found them not, they 6 drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down, are come hither also! whom 7 Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Cesar, saying, That there is another king, one Jesus. And they troubled the peo- 8 ple, and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things. And when 9 they had taken security of Jason and of the others, they let them go. And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto 10 Berea: who coming thither, went into the synagogue of the Jews. These 11 were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also 12 of honorable women which were Greeks, and of men not a few. But when 13 the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people. And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul, to go, 14 as it were, to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still. And 15 they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus to come to him with all speed, they departed.

At Athens, Paul preaches on Mars

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Now, while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit 16 hill, to the Philoso, was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to phers and the people. idolatry. Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with 17 the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him. Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and 18 of the Stoics, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler

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