Dan. 3:1‑6:28• 1{i}Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits, and its breadth six cubits; he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.{/i}
2{i}And Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the justices, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.{/i}
3{i}Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the justices, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.{/i}
4{i}And the herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages,{/i}
5{i}that at what time ye hear{/i} the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer{i}, and all kinds of music, ye{/i} fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up;
6{i}and{/i} whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
7Therefore, at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the people, the nations, and the languages fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
8Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near and accused the Jews.
9{i}They spoke and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live forever!{/i}
10{i}Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of{/i} the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, {i}and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image;{/i}
11{i}and that whosoever doth not fall down and worship, shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace{/i}.
12There are certain Jews, whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. These men, O king, have not regarded thee; they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
13Then Nebuchadnezzar, in his rage and fury, commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. {i}Then were these men brought before the king{/i}.
14{i}Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said unto them{/i}, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
15Now, if ye be ready, that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, {i}and all kinds of music{/i}, ye fall down and worship the image that I have made, well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace, and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
16{i}Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered and said to the king{/i}, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
17If it be so, our God, whom we serve, is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace. He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
18But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
19{i}Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. He spoke, and commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times more than it was wont to be heated.{/i}
20{i}And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace.{/i}
21{i}Then these men were bound in their hosen, their tunics, and their cloaks, and their garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.{/i}
22{i}Forasmuch as the king's commandment was rigorous, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that had taken up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.{/i}
23{i}And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.{/i}
24{i}Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and{/i} rose up in his haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O King.
25He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
26{i}Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the opening of the burning fiery furnace; he spoke and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the Most High God, come forth, and come hither . Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego came forth from the midst of the fire.{/i}
27{i}And the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had had no power, nor was the hair of their head singed, neither were their hosen changed, nor had the smell of fire passed on them.{/i}
28{i}Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants who trusted in him, and who changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God!{/i}
29{i}Therefore I make a decree, that in every people, nation, and language, he who shall speak anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and his house shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that is able to deliver after this sort.{/i}
30{i}Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in the province of Babylon{/i}.
1{i}Nebuchadnezzar the king unto all the peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied unto you.{/i}
2{i}It hath seemed good unto me to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God hath wrought toward me.{/i}
3{i}How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.{/i}
4I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace.
5I saw a dream which made me afraid; and the thoughts upon my bed, and the visions of my head, troubled me.
6{i}And I made a decree{/i} to bring in all the wise men of Babylon {i}before me,{/i} that they might make known {i}unto me{/i} the interpretation of the dream{i}.
7{i}Then came in the scribes, the magicians, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers; and I told the dream before them; but{/i} they did not make known to me the interpretation thereof.
8But, at the last, Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, {i}and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and before him I told the dream{/i}:
9O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.
10{i}Thus were the visions of my head upon my bed: I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great.{/i}
11{i}The tree grew, and was strong, and its height reached unto the heavens, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth.{/i}
12{i}Its leaves were beautiful, and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all: the beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens dwelt in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.{/i}
13{i}I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and behold, a watcher and a holy one came down from the heavens;{/i}
14{i}he cried aloud, and said thus: Hew down the tree, and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit; let the beasts get away from under it, and the birds from its branches.{/i}
15{i}Nevertheless leave the stump of its roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be bathed with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth.{/i}
16{i}Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.{/i}
17{i}This sentence is by the decree of the watchers, and the decision by the word of the holy ones: that the living may know that the Most High ruleth over the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.{/i}
18{i}This dream I, king Nebuchadnezzar, have seen; and thou, Belteshazzar, tell the interpretation, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation; but thou art able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.{/i}
19{i}Then Daniel, whose name is Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spoke and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, nor its interpretation, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said{/i}, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.
20The tree that thou sawest, which grew and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;
21{i}whose leaves were beautiful, and its fruit abundant, and{/i} in it was meat for all: under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:
22It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong; for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.
23And whereas the king saw a watcher, and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, hew the tree down and destroy it. Yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him.
24This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which is come upon my lord the king.
25{i}They shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and{/i} they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven; and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will.
26{i}And whereas it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree; thy kingdom shall remain unto thee, after that thou shalt know that the heavens do rule.{/i}
27{i}Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity{/i}.
28All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
29At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.
30The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?
31While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; the kingdom is departed from thee,
32{i}and they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the Most High ruleth over the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will{/i}.
33The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar; and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen. and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagle's feathers, and his nails like bird's claws.
34And at the end of the days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth forever; whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation.
35And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
36{i}At the same time mine understanding returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my nobles sought me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent greatness was added unto me.{/i}
37{i}Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of the heavens, all whose works are truth, and his paths judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.{/i}
1Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.
2Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king and his princes, his wives and his concubines, might drink therein.
3Then they brought the golden vessels {i}that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines, drank in them.{/i}
4They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood and of stone.
5In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.
6Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.
7The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. {i}The king spoke and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and show me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.{/i}
8{i}Then came in all the king's wise men, but{/i} they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof.
9{i}Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his nobles were confounded.{/i}
10{i}—The queen, by reason of the words of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet-house. The queen spoke and said, O king, live forever! let not thy thoughts trouble thee, neither let thy countenance be changed{/i}.
11There is a man {i}in thy kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and{/i} in the days of thy father, light and understanding, and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;
12{i}forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and showing of hard sentences, and solving of problems, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.{/i}
13{i}Then was Daniel brought in before the king. The king spoke and said unto Daniel{/i}, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?
14{i}And I have heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.{/i}
15{i}And now the wise men, the magicians, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof; but they could not show the interpretation of the thing.{/i}
16{i}But I have heard of thee, that thou canst give interpretations, and solve problems. Now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.{/i}
17{i}Then Daniel answered and said before the king,{/i} Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known unto him the interpretation.
18{i}O thou king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father the kingdom, and greatness, and glory, and majesty;{/i}
19{i}and for the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew, and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he exalted, and whom he would he humbled.{/i}
20{i}But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit hardened unto presumption, he was deposed from the throne of his kingdom, and they took his glory from him;{/i}
21{i}and he was driven from the sons of men, and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses; they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was bathed with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the Most High God ruleth over the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.{/i}
22And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;
23but hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; {i}and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou and thy nobles, thy wives and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know;{/i} and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified.
24{i}then from before him was sent the part of the hand, and this writing hath been written.{/i}
25{i}And this is the writing that is written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.{/i}
26This is the interpretation of the thing. MENE, {i}God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it{/i};
27TEKEL; thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
28PERES; thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
29{i}Then Belshazzar commanded, and they clothed Daniel with purple, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made proclamation concerning him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.{/i}
30In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.
31And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.
1{i}It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty satraps, who should be in all the kingdom;{/i}
2{i}and over these, three presidents—of whom Daniel was one—to whom these satraps should render account, and that the king should suffer no loss.{/i}
3{i}Now this Daniel surpassed the presidents and the satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to appoint him over the whole realm.{/i}
4{i}Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find a pretext against Daniel with respect to the kingdom; but they could not find any pretext or fault; inasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.{/i}
5{i}Then said these men, We shall not find any pretext against this Daniel, unless we find it against him{/i} concerning the law of his God.
6{i}Then these presidents and satraps came in a body to the king, and said thus unto him: King Darius, live forever!{/i}
7{i}All the presidents of the kingdom, the prefects, and the satraps, the counsellors, and the governors have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, except of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.{/i}
8{i}Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked.{/i}
9{i}Therefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.{/i}
10{i}And when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and, his windows being open in his upper chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled on his knees three times a day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.{/i}
11{i}But those men came in a body, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.{/i}
12{i}Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king's decree: Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask anything of any god or man within thirty days, except of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked.{/i}
13{i}Then they answered and said before the king{/i}, That Daniel, which is of the captivity of the children of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.
14{i}Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore distressed thereby, and set his heart on Daniel to save him; and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.{/i}
15{i}Then these men came in a body unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.{/i}
16{i}Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. The king spoke and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will save thee.{/i}
17{i}And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his nobles, that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.{/i}
18{i}Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting; neither were concubines brought before him; and his sleep fled from him.{/i}
19{i}Then the king arose with the light at break of day, and went in haste unto the den of lions.{/i}
20{i}And when he came near unto the den, he cried with a mournful voice unto Daniel: the king spoke and said unto Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, hath thy God whom thou servest continually been able to save thee from the lions?{/i}
21{i}Then Daniel spoke unto the king, O king, live forever!{/i}
22{i}My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me; forasmuch as before him innocence was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.{/i}
23{i}Thereupon was the king exceeding glad, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.{/i}
24{i}And the king commanded, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and broke all their bones in pieces ere they came to the bottom of the den.{/i}
25{i}Then king Darius wrote unto all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied unto you.{/i}
26{i}I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; for he is the living God, and steadfast forever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.{/i}
27{i}He saveth and delivereth, and he worketh signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth: who hath saved Daniel from the power of the lions.{/i}
28{i}And this{/i} Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. (Dan. 3:1‑6:28)
Acts 14:1‑21:16• 1And it came to pass in Iconium that they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake that a great multitude of both Jews and Greeks believed.
2But the Jews that disobeyed stirred up the souls of the Gentiles and aggravated [them] against the brethren.
3A considerable time therefore they stayed speaking boldly in reliance on the Lord that gave witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
4But the multitude of the city was divided; and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
5And when an effort was made of both the Gentiles and Jews with their rulers to outrage and stone them,
6becoming aware [of it] they fled unto the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra, and Derbe, and the [country] round about,
7and there they were preaching the gospel.
8And there sat a certain man at Lystra powerless in his feet, lame from his mother's womb, who never had walked.
9This [man] heard Paul speaking, who fastening his eyes upon him and seeing that he had faith to be made whole,
10said with a loud voice, Rise upright on thy feet: and he leaped up and walked.
11And the crowds seeing what Paul did, lifted up their voices in Lycaonian, saying, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.
12And they called Barnabas Zeus, and Paul Hermes, because he took the lead in speaking.
13And the priest of the Zeus that was before the city, having brought bulls and garlands unto the gates would have sacrificed with the crowds.
14But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard [of it], they rent their garments, and sprang out unto the crowd, crying out,
15and saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like affections with you, preaching to you that ye should turn from these vain things unto a living God, who made the heaven and the earth, and the sea and all things in them;
16who in the bygone generations suffered all the Gentiles to walk in their own ways.
17And yet he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave you from heaven rains and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.
18And saying these things they with difficulty restrained the crowds from sacrificing to them.
19But there arrived Jews from Antioch and Iconium and having persuaded the crowds and stoned Paul, they dragged [him] without the city, supposing that he was dead.
20But as the disciples encircled him he rose up and entered into the city. And on the morrow, he went forth with Barnabas to Derbe.
21And, after preaching the gospel to that city and making many disciples, they returned unto Lystra and unto Iconium, and unto Antioch,
22establishing the souls of the disciples, exhorting [them] to continue in the faith, and that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God.
23And when they chose for them elders in each assembly and prayed with fastings, they commended them to the Lord on whom they had believed.
24And having passed through Pisidia they came unto Pamphylia;
25and having spoken the word [of the Lord] in Perga, they went down unto Attalia;
26and thence they sailed unto Antioch, whence they had been commended to the grace of God, for the work which they fulfilled.
27And when they arrived and brought the assembly together, they repeated all things God had wrought with them, and how he had opened to the Gentiles a door of faith.
28And they tarried no little time with the disciples.
1And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, Except ye be circumcised after the custom of Moses ye cannot be saved.
2And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and questioning with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up unto Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
3They therefore having been set forward by the assembly, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the conversion of the Gentiles, and they caused great joy to all the brethren.
4And on arriving at Jerusalem they were welcomed by the assembly, and the apostles, and the elders, and reported all things that God did with them.
5But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees, believers, saying, It is necessary to circumcise them and charge [them] to keep the law of Moses.
6And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter.
7And when there had been much questioning, Peter stood up and said to them, Brethren, ye know how that from early days God chose among you that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel and believe.
8And the heart-knowing God bore them witness giving [them] the Holy Spirit, even as to us also:
9and he put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10Now therefore why tempt ye God, that ye should put a yoke on the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus we shall be saved in like manner as they.
12And all the multitude kept silence, and they hearkened unto Barnabas and Paul rehearsing what signs and wonders God wrought among the Gentiles by them.
13And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Brethren, hearken to me.
14Simeon has rehearsed how God first visited [the] Gentiles to take out of [them] a people for his name.
15And to this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written.
16After these things I will return and build again the tabernacle of David which is fallen, and will build again its ruins and will set it up,
17so that the residue of men may seek out the Lord, and all the nations upon whom my name is called saith [the] Lord, who maketh [all] these things
18known from the beginning of the world.
19Wherefore my judgment is that we trouble not those who from the Gentiles turn to God,
20but write to them that they may abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood.
21For Moses from generations of old hath in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.
22Then it seemed good to the apostles and elders, with the whole assembly, having chosen from among them to send men with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch. Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren,
23having written by their hand, The apostles and the elder brethren to the brethren which are of [the] Gentiles in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia, greeting.
24Whereas we heard that some who went out from us troubled you with words, upsetting your souls, to whom we gave no commandment,
25it seemed good to us, having been of one accord, to choose and send men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26men that have given up their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, themselves also announcing by word the same things.
28For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these necessary things:
29to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and blood, and things strangled, and fornication, from which if ye keep yourselves ye shall do well. Farewell.
30They then having been let go, went down unto Antioch, and having gathered the multitude delivered the letter.
31And when they had read [it] they rejoiced at the consolation.
32And Judas and Silas, being themselves also prophets, exhorted the brethren with much discourse, and strengthened [them].
33And having continued a time, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto those that sent them.
34(Verse not included in this translation)
35But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch teaching and evangelizing, with many others also, the word of the Lord.
36But after certain days Paul said to Barnabas, Let us return now and see after the brethren in every city wherein we announced the word of the Lord, how they fare.
37And Barnabas was minded to take with [them] John also that was called Mark.
38But Paul thought good not to take with [them] him that withdrew from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them unto the work.
39And there arose a sharp feeling, so that they parted one from another: and Barnabas taking Mark sailed away unto Cyprus:
40but Paul chose Silas and departed, commended by the brethren to the grace of the Lord.
41And he passed through Syria and Cilicia confirming the assemblies.
1And he came unto Derbe and unto Lystra; and, behold, a certain disciple was there, by name Timothy, son of a Jewish believing woman, but of a Greek father;
2who was borne witness to by the brethren in Lystra and Iconium.
3Him Paul would have to go with him; and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews that were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
4And as they passed through the cities, they delivered them the decrees to observe, which had been ordained by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem.
5The assemblies then were being strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.
6And they went through the Phrygian and Galatian country, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit, to speak the word in Asia,
7and having come over against Mysia, they attempted to proceed into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus permitted them not;
8and passing by Mysia they came down to Troas.
9And a vision appeared to Paul by night. There was a certain man of Macedon standing and beseeching him and saying, Come over into Macedonia and help us.
10And when he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
11Having therefore sailed away from Troas we took a straight course unto Samothrace, and on the morrow unto Neapolis,
12and thence unto Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, first of the district, a colony. And we were in this city staying certain days.
13And on the Sabbath day we went forth outside the gate by a river where prayer was wont to be: and we sat down and spoke to the women that had come together.
14And a certain woman, named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, that worshipped God heard, whose heart the Lord opened to heed the things spoken by Paul.
15And when she was baptized and her house, she besought, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord come into my house and abide. And she constrained us.
16And it came to pass as we were going unto prayer, that a certain maid having a spirit of Python met us, who brought her masters much gain by divinations.
17She, having followed Paul and us, cried, saying, These men are bondmen of the most high God, who announce to you salvation's way.
18And this she did for many days. But Paul being distressed, turned and said to the spirit, I charge thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And it came out the same hour.
19And when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they laid hold on, and dragged Paul and Silas into the market-place before the rulers;
20and when they had brought them unto the praetors, they said, These men being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city,
21and set forth customs which it is not lawful for us to receive, or practice, being Romans.
22And the crowd rose up together against them; and the praetors rent their garments off them, and commanded to beat them with rods.
23And having laid many stripes on them, they cast [them] into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely;
24who having received such a charge, cast them into the inner prison, and secured their feet into the stocks.
25But about midnight, Paul and Silas in praying were singing praises to God, and the prisoners were listening to them;
26and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and the bands of all were loosed.
27And the jailor being roused out of sleep, and seeing the prison doors open drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.
28But Paul cried with loud voice saying, Do thyself no harm, for we are all here.
29And he called for lights, and sprang in, and trembling for fear, fell down before Paul and Silas,
30and led them forth, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31and they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, a and thou shalt be saved and thy house.
32And they spoke to him the word of the Lord b with all that were in his house.
33And he took them at that hour of the night and washed [them] from their stripes, and was baptized, he and all his immediately.
34And having brought them into his house, he set meat c before them, and rejoiced with all his house, having believed in God.
35And when it was day the praetors sent the lictors saying, Let those men go.
36And the jailor reported the saying to Paul, The praetors have sent that ye be let go: now then go out and proceed in peace.
37But Paul said unto them, They beat us openly uncondemned, men being Romans, and cast us into prison; and now do they cast us out privily? No, indeed, but let themselves come and bring us out.
38And the lictors announced these words to the praetors; and they were afraid when they heard they were Romans.
39And on coming they besought them, and bringing out entreated [them] to go out of the city.
40And when they went out of the prison, they entered into [the house of] Lydia; and when they saw the brethren, they exhorted them and departed.
1Now when they had journeyed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was the synagogue of the Jews.
2And Paul, as his custom was, went in among them, and on three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the scriptures;
3opening and alleging that the Christ must suffer, and rise again from [the] dead, and that this Jesus whom I announce to you is the Christ.
4And some of them were persuaded and added to Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
5But the Jews, having been stirred up to jealousy, took unto them certain wicked men of the rabble, and gathering a crowd, set the city in confusion, and besetting the house of Jason, sought to bring them out to the people.
6And not having found them they dragged Jason and certain brethren before the city-rulers, crying out, these that have turned the world upside down are come hither also,
7whom Jason has received; and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.
8And they troubled the crowd and the city-rulers, when they heard these things.
9And having taken security for Jason and the rest, they let them go.
10But the brethren immediately sent away by night Paul and Silas unto Beroea, who on their arrival went away into the synagogue of the Jews.
11Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, being such as received the word with all readiness of mind, day by day examining the scriptures whether these things were so.
12Many out of them therefore believed, and of the Greek women of good position and of men, not a few.
13But when the Jews from Thessalonica knew that the word of God was announced by Paul in Beroea also, they came thither also, stirring up and troubling the crowds.
14And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to proceed toward the sea, but Silas and Timotheus abode there.
15But they that were conducting Paul brought [him] as far as Athens; and having received a charge for Silas and Timothy that they should come as quickly as possible unto him they departed.
16Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked in him as he observed the city to be full of idols.
17He reasoned therefore in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout, and in the market place every day with those that turned up.
18And certain also of the Epicureans and Stoic philosophers attacked him. And some said, What would this babbler say? and others, He seemeth to be an announcer of strange divinities, because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.
19And having taken hold of him, they brought [him] up to the Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new teaching [is] that is spoken by thee?
20For thou bringest certain strange things unto our ears; we wish to know therefore what these things mean.
21Now all Athenians and the strangers sojourning there spent their time in nothing else than either to tell something, or to hear something newer.
22And Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, Men of Athens, in all things I observe that ye are very reverent to divinities,
23for passing through and closely observing the objects of your worship, I found also an altar on which was the inscription: To an unknown God. What therefore, ye, without knowing, worship, this I announce to you.
24The God that made the world and all things therein, he being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands.
25Nor is he served by human hands as needing something more, himself giving to all life, and breath, and all things.
26And he made of one [blood] every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, having determined appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation,
27that they should seek God if haply they might feel after and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
28For in him we live and move and are; as also some of your own poets have said, For his off-spring also are we.
29Being therefore God's off-spring, we ought not to think that the divinity is like gold, or silver or stone, graven by art and device of man.
30God therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, now commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent,
31inasmuch as he has appointed a day, in which he is about to judge the world in righteousness by a Man whom he marked out, having given assurance to all in that he raised him from [the] dead.
32Now when they heard of resurrection of dead [men] some mocked, but others said, We will hear thee concerning this yet again.
33Thus Paul went out from their midst.
34But some clave to him and believed; among whom also was Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
1After these things he departed from Athens and came unto Corinth.
2And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, of Pontus by race, lately come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome. And he came unto them:
3and because he was one of the same trade, he abode with them, and [they] wrought, for by their trade they were tent-makers.
4And he was discoursing in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuading Jews and Greeks.
5And when both Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was engrossed with the word testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
6But as they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook out his clothes, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own head; I [am] pure; from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles,
7and departing thence he went into a certain man's house by name Titus Justus, a worshipper of God, whose house adjoined to the synagogue.
8And Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing, believed, and were baptized.
9And the Lord said by night through a vision to Paul, Fear not, but speak, and be not silent,
10because I am with thee and no one shall set on thee to harm thee; because I have much people in this city.
11And he settled down a year and six months, teaching among them the word of God.
12But when Gallio was pro-consul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul, and brought him before the judgment seat,
13saying, This [man] persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.
14But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If indeed it were some wrong, or wicked villainy, O Jews, with reason should I have borne with you;
15but if they are questions about a word and names and your own law, ye shall look yourselves; I do not intend to be judge of these things.
16And he drove them from the judgment-seat.
17And having all laid hold on Sosthenes the ruler of the synagogue, they beat [him] before the judgment-seat. And Gallio cared for none of these things.
18And Paul having remained yet many days, took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila, having shorn his head in Cenchrea, for he had a vow.
19And they arrived at Ephesus and he left them there, but he himself, entering into the synagogue, reasoned with the Jews.
20And when they asked him to remain for a longer time, he did not consent,
21but taking his leave and saying, [I must by all means keep the coming feast at Jerusalem]; I will return again unto you if God will, he sailed from Ephesus.
22And landing at Caesarea, he went up and saluted the church, and went down unto Antioch.
23And having spent some time, he departed, going through the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, establishing all the disciples.
24But a certain Jew, Apollos by name, an Alexandrian by race, an eloquent man, arrived at Ephesus, being mighty in the scriptures.
25He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and being fervent in his spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, knowing only the baptism of John;
26and he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him up, and more accurately expounded to him the way of God.
27And when he was minded to go through into Achaia, the brethren wrote and urged the disciples to receive him; and he, on coming, contributed much to those that had believed through grace.
28For he forcibly confuted the Jews in public, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
1And it came to pass, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having gone through the upper parts, came [down] unto Ephesus, and finding certain disciples
2said unto them, Received ye [the] Holy Spirit since ye believed? And they [said] unto him, Not even if [the] Holy Spirit was did we hear.
3And he said, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
4And Paul said, John baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on him that was coming after him, that is, on Jesus.
5And when they heard this, they were baptized unto the name of the Lord Jesus.
6And when Paul laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them; and they spake with tongues and prophesied;
7and they were in all about twelve men.
8And entering into the synagogue he spoke boldly for three months, discoursing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
9But when some were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, discoursing daily in the school of Tyrannus.
10And this was done for two years, so that all those that dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
11And God wrought uncommon powers by the hands of Paul,
12so that even upon the sick were brought from his body handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases left them, and the evil spirits went out.
13And certain ones of the Jewish exorcists that went about took in hand to call upon those that had wicked spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
14And there were seven sons of Sceva, a certain Jewish chief-priest, doing this.
15But the wicked spirit answering said to them, Jesus I know, and Paul I am acquainted with; but who are ye?
16And the man in whom the wicked spirit was, leaping upon them and mastering them both, prevailed against them, so that they fled out from that house naked and wounded.
17And this became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, that inhabited Ephesus. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
18Many too of those that had believed came confessing and declaring their deeds.
19And not a few of those that practiced curious arts brought their books and burnt [them] before all. And they summed up the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
20So with might the word of the Lord increased and prevailed.
21Now after these things were fulfilled, Paul purposed in his spirit, passing through Macedonia and Achaia, to proceed unto Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there I must see Rome also.
22And having sent into Macedonia two of those that ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for awhile.
23And about that time arose no small disturbance about the way.
24For a certain [man] by name Demetrius, a silver-beater, making silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the artisans,
25whom he gathered together with the workmen of like nature, and said, Men, ye are aware that we have our prosperity from this business.
26And ye behold and hear that this Paul hath persuaded and turned away a considerable crowd, not only of Ephesus, but of almost all Asia, saying that they are no gods that are made by hands.
27Now, not only is there danger for us that this trade come into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be counted for nothing, and that even she should be deposed from her magnificence, whom all Asia and the world revereth.
28And when they heard they were filled with wrath and kept crying out, saying, Great is Artemis of the Ephesians.
29And the city was filled with confusion; and they rushed with one accord into the theatre,
30having seized together Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul's fellow-travelers.
31And when Paul was minded to enter unto the people, the disciples suffered him not. And some of the Asiarchs also, being his friends, sent unto him and urged him not to adventure himself into the theatre.
32Different ones therefore kept crying somewhat different things; for the assembly was in confusion, and the mass knew not wherefore they were come together.
33And from the crowd they instructed Alexander, the Jews putting him forward; and Alexander waving his hand wished to make defence to the people.
34But when they came to know he was a Jew, one shout arose from all, crying for about two hours, Great [is] Artemis of [the] Ephesians.
35And the town clerk after stilling the crowd, says, Ephesians, which of men is he who knoweth not that the city of [the] Ephesians is temple-keeper of the great Artemis, and of what fell from the sky?
36Since then these things cannot be gainsaid, you must be quiet and do nothing rash.
37For ye have brought these men, neither temple-robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess.
38If then Demetrius and the artisans with him have a matter against anyone, court days are going on, and there are pro-consuls: let them accuse each other;
39but if you make any inquiry about other things, it will be settled in the lawful assembly.
40For indeed we are in danger of being accused of riot today, there being no cause concerning which we shall be able to render an account of this concourse.
41And having said thus he dismissed the assembly.
1And after the uproar had ceased, Paul having called for the disciples, and exhorted and saluted them, departed to go into Macedonia.
2And having gone through those parts and exhorted them with much discourse, he came into Greece.
3And having spent three months, and a plot being laid against him by the Jews, as he was about to sail for Syria, he determined to return through Macedonia.
4And there accompanied him (as far as Asia) Sopater a Beroean [son] of Pyrrhus; and of Thessalonians Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and of Asia Tychicus and Trophimus.
5These going before waited for us at Troas.
6And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened [bread] and came unto them to Troas in five days, where we tarried seven days.
7And on the first [day] of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul discoursed to them, about to depart on the morrow, and prolonged the word till midnight.
8And there were many lights in the upper room where we were gathered together.
9And a certain youth, by name Eutychus, as he was sitting in the window, being overpowered with deep sleep, as Paul was discoursing yet longer, fell overpowered by the sleep down from the third story, and was taken up dead.
10But Paul went down and fell upon him, and clasping him round said, Be not troubled, for his life is in him.
11And when he went up and broke the bread and had eaten, and conversed with them a long while till daybreak, so he departed.
12And they brought the boy alive and were not a little comforted.
13But we, having gone before on board the ship, set sail for Assos, there intending to take up Paul, for so he had arranged, intending himself to go on foot.
14And when he met with us at Assos, we took him up, and came unto Mitylene;
15and having sailed thence on the morrow we arrived over against Chios, and on the next day we touched at Samos, and [having remained at Trogyllium] the day after we came unto Miletus.
16For Paul determined to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if it were possible for him to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.
17And from Miletus he sent unto Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church.
18And when they were come to him, he said to them, Ye know from the first day that I came to Asia how I was with you all the time
19serving the Lord with all lowliness of mind, and tears, and temptations, which befell me by the plots of the Jews;
20how I kept back nothing of what is profitable, so as not to announce to you and to teach you publicly, and from house to house,
21testifying both to Jews and to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
22And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
23save that the Holy Spirit testifieth to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
24But I hold not my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may accomplish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
25And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom [of God] shall see my face no more.
26Wherefore I testify to you this day that I am pure from the blood of all.
27For I shrank not from announcing to you all the counsel of God.
28Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit set you overseers to tend the assembly of God, which he purchased with his own blood.
29I know that after my departure grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock;
30and from among your own selves shall men arise speaking things perverted to draw the disciples after them.
31Wherefore watch, remembering that by the space of three years I ceased not admonishing each one night and day with tears.
32And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all that are sanctified.
33I coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel;
34yea, yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities, and to those that were with me.
35In all things I gave you an example how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
36And having thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.
37And they all wept sore, and falling on Paul's neck, fondly kissed him,
38sorrowing most of all for the word which he had spoken, that they should behold his face no more. And they brought him forward unto the ship.
1And when it came to pass that we were parted from them and had set sail, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the next day unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara;
2and having found a ship crossing over into Phoenicia, we went on board and set sail;
3and as we had sighted Cyprus, leaving it on the left, we sailed into Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unlade her cargo.
4And having found out the disciples, we remained there seven days; and these said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not set foot in Jerusalem.
5And when it came to pass that we had completed the days, we departed and went on our journey, and they all with wives and children brought us on our way, till we were out of the city, and kneeling down on the beach we prayed
6and took leave of one another, and we went on board ship, and they returned home.
7And when we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.
8And on the morrow we departed and came unto Caesarea; and entering into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we abode with him.
9Now this man had four daughters, virgins, who did prophesy;
10and, as we tarried many days, there came down from Judea a certain prophet named Agabus;
11and coming to us and taking Paul's girdle, he bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Spirit, so shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and deliver him into the hands of [the] Gentiles.
12And when we heard these things, both we and those of the place besought him not to go up to Jerusalem;
13then Paul answered, Why do ye weep and break my heart? For I am ready, not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
14And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
15And after these days we took up our baggage and went up to Jerusalem.
16And there went with us also [certain] disciples from Caesarea, bringing one Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should lodge. (Acts 14:1‑21:16)