Chemtrails:pros and cons.

Iron and clay IV

Acts16-20NWT(2013 Edition)

16 So he arrived at Der′be and also at Lys′tra.+ And a disciple named Timothy+ was there, the son of a believing Jewish woman but of a Greek father, 2 and he was well-reported-on by the brothers in Lys′tra and I·co′ni·um. 3 Paul expressed the desire for Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews in those places,+ for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they traveled on through the cities, they would deliver to them for observance the decrees that had been decided on by the apostles and the elders who were in Jerusalem.+ 5 Then, indeed, the congregations continued to be made firm in the faith and to increase in number day by day.

6 Moreover, they traveled through Phryg′i·a and the country of Ga·la′ti·a,+ because they were forbidden by the holy spirit to speak the word in the province of Asia. 7 Further, when they came down to Mys′i·a, they made efforts to go into Bi·thyn′i·a,+ but the spirit of Jesus did not permit them. 8 So they passed by* Mys′i·a and came down to Tro′as. 9 And during the night a vision appeared to Paul—a Mac·e·do′ni·an man was standing there urging him and saying: “Step over into Mac·e·do′ni·a and help us.” 10 As soon as he had seen the vision, we tried to go into Mac·e·do′ni·a, drawing the conclusion that God had summoned us to declare the good news to them.

11 So we put out to sea from Tro′as and made a straight run to Sam′o·thrace, but on the following day to Ne·ap′o·lis; 12 and from there we went to Phi·lip′pi,+ a colony, which is the principal city of the district of Mac·e·do′ni·a. We stayed in this city for some days. 13 On the Sabbath day we went outside the gate beside a river, where we thought there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled. 14 And a woman named Lyd′i·a, a seller of purple from the city of Thy·a·ti′ra+ and a worshipper of God, was listening, and Jehovah* opened her heart wide to pay attention to the things Paul was saying. 15 Now when she and her household got baptized,+ she urged us: “If you have considered me to be faithful to Jehovah,* come and stay at my house.” And she just made us come.

16 Now it happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a servant girl with a spirit, a demon of divination,+ met us. She supplied her masters with much profit by fortune-telling.* 17 This girl kept following Paul and us and crying out with the words: “These men are slaves of the Most High God+ and are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.” 18 She kept doing this for many days. Finally Paul got tired of it and turned and said to the spirit: “I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.+

19 Well, when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone,+ they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the rulers.+ 20 Leading them up to the civil magistrates, they said: “These men are disturbing our city very much.+ They are Jews, 21 and they are proclaiming customs that it is not lawful for us to adopt or practice, seeing that we are Romans.” 22 And the crowd rose up together against them, and the civil magistrates, after tearing the garments off them, gave the command to beat them with rods.+ 23 After they had inflicted many blows on them, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to guard them securely.+ 24 Because he got such an order, he threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

25 But about the middle of the night, Paul and Silas were praying and praising God with song,+ and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly a great earthquake occurred, so that the foundations of the jail were shaken. Moreover, all the doors were instantly opened, and everyone’s bonds came loose.+ 27 When the jailer woke up and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, assuming that the prisoners had escaped.+ 28 But Paul called out with a loud voice: “Do not hurt yourself, for we are all here!” 29 So he asked for lights and rushed in, and seized with trembling, he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 He brought them outside and said: “Sirs, what must I do to get saved?” 31 They said: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will get saved, you and your household.”+ 32 Then they spoke the word of Jehovah* to him together with all those in his house. 33 And he took them along in that hour of the night and washed their wounds. Then he and his entire household were baptized without delay.+ 34 He brought them into his house and set a table before them, and he rejoiced greatly with all his household now that he had believed in God.

35 When it became day, the civil magistrates sent the constables to say: “Release those men.” 36 The jailer reported their words to Paul: “The civil magistrates have sent men to have you two released. So come out now and go in peace.” 37 But Paul said to them: “They flogged us publicly, uncondemned,* though we are Romans,+ and threw us into prison. Are they now throwing us out secretly? No, indeed! Let them come themselves and escort us out.” 38 The constables reported these words to the civil magistrates. These grew fearful when they heard that the men were Romans.+ 39 So they came and pleaded with them, and after escorting them out, they requested them to depart from the city. 40 But they came out of the prison and went to the home of Lyd′i·a; and when they saw the brothers, they encouraged them+ and departed.

 

 

17 They now traveled through Am·phip′o·lis and Ap·ol·lo′ni·a and came to Thes·sa·lo·ni′ca,+ where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 So according to Paul’s custom+ he went inside to them, and for three sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,+ 3 explaining and proving by references that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer+ and to rise from the dead,+ saying: “This is the Christ, this Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you.” 4 As a result, some of them became believers and associated themselves with Paul and Silas,+ and so did a great multitude of the Greeks who worshipped God, along with quite a few of the principal women.

5 But the Jews, getting jealous,+ gathered together some wicked men who were loitering at the marketplace and formed a mob and proceeded to throw the city into an uproar. They assaulted the house of Ja′son and were seeking to have Paul and Silas brought out to the mob. 6 When they did not find them, they dragged Ja′son and some of the brothers to the city rulers, crying out: “These men who have overturned* the inhabited earth are present here also,+ 7 and Ja′son has received them as his guests. All these men act in opposition to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king, Jesus.”+ 8 When they heard these things, the crowd and the city rulers were alarmed; 9 and after taking sufficient security* from Ja′son and the others, they let them go.

10 Immediately by night the brothers sent both Paul and Silas to Be·roe′a. On arriving, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thes·sa·lo·ni′ca, for they accepted the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. 12 Therefore, many of them became believers, and so did quite a few of the reputable Greek women as well as some of the men. 13 But when the Jews from Thes·sa·lo·ni′ca learned that the word of God was also being proclaimed by Paul in Be·roe′a, they came there to incite and agitate the crowds.+ 14 Then the brothers immediately sent Paul away to the sea,+ but both Silas and Timothy remained behind there. 15 However, those accompanying Paul brought him as far as Athens, and they departed after receiving instructions that Silas and Timothy+ should come to Paul as quickly as possible.

16 Now while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit within him became irritated on seeing that the city was full of idols. 17 So he began to reason in the synagogue with the Jews and the other people who worshipped God and every day in the marketplace with those who happened to be on hand. 18 But some of both the Ep·i·cu·re′an and the Sto′ic philosophers began disputing with him, and some were saying: “What is it this chatterer would like to tell?” Others: “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign deities.” This was because he was declaring the good news of Jesus and the resurrection.+ 19 So they took hold of him and led him to the Ar·e·op′a·gus, saying: “Can we get to know what this new teaching is that you are speaking about? 20 For you are introducing some things that are strange to our ears, and we want to know what these things mean.” 21 In fact, all Athenians and the foreigners staying* there would spend their leisure time doing nothing else but telling or listening to something new. 22 Paul now stood in the midst of the Ar·e·op′a·gus+ and said:

“Men of Athens, I see that in all things you seem to be more given to the fear of the deities* than others are.+ 23 For instance, while passing along and carefully observing your objects of veneration,* I found even an altar on which had been inscribed ‘To an Unknown God.’ Therefore, what you are unknowingly worshipping, this I am declaring to you. 24 The God who made the world and all the things in it, being, as he is, Lord of heaven and earth,+ does not dwell in handmade temples;+ 25 nor is he served by human hands as if he needed anything,+ because he himself gives to all people life and breath+ and all things. 26 And he made out of one man+ every nation of men to dwell on the entire surface of the earth,+ and he decreed the appointed times and the set limits of where men would dwell,+ 27 so that they would seek God, if they might grope for him and really find him,+ although, in fact, he is not far off from each one of us. 28 For by him we have life and move and exist, even as some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his children.’*

29 “Therefore, since we are the children* of God,+ we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, like something sculptured by the art and design of humans.+ 30 True, God has overlooked the times of such ignorance;+ but now he is declaring to all people everywhere that they should repent. 31 Because he has set a day on which he purposes to judge+ the inhabited earth in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and he has provided a guarantee to all men by resurrecting him from the dead.”+

32 Now when they heard of a resurrection of the dead, some began to scoff,+ while others said: “We will hear you again about this.” 33 So Paul left them, 34 but some men joined him and became believers. Among them were Di·o·nys′i·us, who was a judge of the court of the Ar·e·op′a·gus, and a woman named Dam′a·ris, and others besides them.

 

 

18 After this he departed from Athens and came to Corinth. 2 And he found a Jew named Aq′ui·la,+ a native of Pon′tus who had recently come from Italy with Pris·cil′la his wife, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. So he went to them, 3 and because he had the same trade, he stayed at their home and worked with them,+ for they were tentmakers by trade. 4 He would give a talk* in the synagogue+ every sabbath+ and would persuade Jews and Greeks.

5 When, now, both Silas+ and Timothy+ came down from Mac·e·do′ni·a, Paul began to be intensely occupied with the word, witnessing to the Jews to prove that Jesus is the Christ.+ 6 But after they kept on opposing him and speaking abusively, he shook out his garments+ and said to them: “Let your blood be on your own heads.+ I am clean.+ From now on I will go to people of the nations.”+ 7 So he transferred from there* and went into the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshipper of God, whose house adjoined the synagogue. 8 But Cris′pus,+ the presiding officer of the synagogue, became a believer in the Lord, along with all his household. And many of the Corinthians who heard began to believe and be baptized. 9 Moreover, the Lord said to Paul in a vision by night: “Do not be afraid, but keep on speaking and do not keep silent, 10 for I am with you+ and no man will assault you to harm you; for I have many people in this city.” 11 So he stayed there for a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

12 While Gal′li·o was proconsul* of A·cha′ia, the Jews made a concerted attack against Paul and led him to the judgment seat, 13 saying: “This man is persuading people to worship God in a way contrary to the law.” 14 But as Paul was about to speak, Gal′li·o said to the Jews: “If, indeed, it were some wrong or a serious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to hear you out patiently. 15 But if it is controversies over speech and names and your own law,+ you yourselves must see to it. I do not wish to be a judge of these things.” 16 With that he drove them away from the judgment seat. 17 So they all seized Sos′the·nes,+ the presiding officer of the synagogue, and began beating him in front of the judgment seat. But Gal′li·o would not get involved at all with these things.

18 However, after staying quite a few days longer, Paul said good-bye to the brothers and sailed away for Syria, accompanied by Pris·cil′la and Aq′ui·la. He had his hair clipped short in Cen′chre·ae,+ for he had made a vow. 19 So they arrived at Eph′e·sus, and he left them there; but he entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.+ 20 Although they kept requesting him to stay longer, he would not consent 21 but said good-bye and told them: “I will return to you again, if Jehovah* is willing.” And he put out to sea from Eph′e·sus 22 and came down to Caes·a·re′a. And he went up* and greeted the congregation and then went down to Antioch.+

23 After spending some time there, he departed and went from place to place through the country of Ga·la′ti·a and Phryg′i·a,+ strengthening all the disciples.+

24 Now a Jew named A·pol′los,+ a native of Alexandria, arrived in Eph′e·sus; he was an eloquent man who was well-versed in the Scriptures. 25 This man had been instructed* in the way of Jehovah,* and aglow with the spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things about Jesus, but he was acquainted only with the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, and when Pris·cil′la and Aq′ui·la+ heard him, they took him into their company and explained the way of God more accurately to him. 27 Further, because he wanted to go across to A·cha′ia, the brothers wrote to the disciples, urging them to receive him kindly. So when he got there, he greatly helped those who through God’s undeserved kindness had become believers; 28 for publicly and with great intensity he thoroughly proved the Jews to be wrong, showing them from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.+

 

 

 

19 In the course of events, while A·pol′los+ was in Corinth, Paul went through the inland regions and came down to Eph′e·sus.+ There he found some disciples 2 and said to them: “Did you receive holy spirit when you became believers?”+ They replied to him: “Why, we have never heard that there is a holy spirit.” 3 So he said: “In what, then, were you baptized?” They said: “In John’s baptism.”+ 4 Paul said: “John baptized with the baptism in symbol of repentance,+ telling the people to believe in the one coming after him,+ that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they got baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul laid his hands on them, the holy spirit came upon them,+ and they began speaking in foreign languages and prophesying.+ 7 There were about 12 men in all.

8 Entering the synagogue,+ for three months he spoke with boldness, giving talks and reasoning persuasively about the Kingdom of God.+ 9 But when some stubbornly refused to believe,* speaking injuriously about The Way+ before the crowd, he withdrew from them+ and separated the disciples from them, giving talks daily in the school auditorium of Ty·ran′nus. 10 This went on for two years, so that all those living in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

11 And God kept performing extraordinary powerful works through the hands of Paul,+ 12 so that even cloths and aprons that had touched his body were carried to the sick,+ and the diseases left them, and the wicked spirits came out.+ 13 But some of the Jews who traveled around casting out demons also tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had wicked spirits; they would say: “I solemnly charge you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.”+ 14 Now there were seven sons of a Jewish chief priest named Sce′va doing this. 15 But in answer the wicked spirit said to them: “I know Jesus+ and I am acquainted with Paul;+ but who are you?” 16 At that the man with the wicked spirit leaped on them, overpowered them one after the other, and prevailed against them, so that they fled naked and wounded out of that house. 17 This became known to all, both the Jews and the Greeks who lived in Eph′e·sus; and fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus went on being magnified. 18 And many of those who had become believers would come and confess and report their practices openly. 19 Indeed, quite a number of those who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them up before everybody.+ And they calculated their value and found them worth 50,000 pieces of silver. 20 Thus in a mighty way, the word of Jehovah* kept growing and prevailing.+

21 After these things had taken place, Paul resolved in his spirit that after going through Mac·e·do′ni·a+ and A·cha′ia, he would travel to Jerusalem.+ He said: “After going there, I must also see Rome.”+ 22 So he sent to Mac·e·do′ni·a two of those who ministered to him, Timothy+ and E·ras′tus,+ but he himself stayed on for some time in the province of Asia.

23 At that time quite a disturbance+ arose concerning The Way.+ 24 For a man named De·me′tri·us, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Ar′te·mis, brought considerable profit to the craftsmen.+ 25 He gathered them and others who worked at such things and said: “Men, you well know that from this business comes our prosperity. 26 Now you see and hear how, not only in Eph′e·sus+ but in nearly all the province of Asia, this Paul has persuaded a considerable crowd and turned them to another opinion, saying that the gods made by hands are not really gods.+ 27 Moreover, the danger exists not only that this business of ours will come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Ar′te·mis will be viewed as nothing, and she who is worshipped in the whole province of Asia and the inhabited earth will be deprived of her magnificence.” 28 Hearing this and becoming full of anger, the men began crying out: “Great is Ar′te·mis of the E·phe′sians!”

29 So the city became filled with confusion, and all together they rushed into the theater, dragging along with them Ga′ius and Ar·is·tar′chus,+ Mac·e·do′ni·ans, traveling companions of Paul. 30 For his part, Paul was willing to go inside to the people, but the disciples would not permit him. 31 Even some of the commissioners of festivals and games who were friendly to him sent word to him, pleading with him not to risk going into the theater. 32 Some were, in fact, crying out one thing and others something else; for the assembly was in confusion and the majority of them did not know the reason why they had come together. 33 So they brought Alexander out of the crowd, the Jews shoving him forward, and Alexander motioned with his hand and wanted to make his defense to the people. 34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, they all started shouting in unison for about two hours: “Great is Ar′te·mis of the E·phe′sians!”

35 When the city recorder had finally quieted the crowd, he said: “Men of Eph′e·sus, who really is there among men who does not know that the city of the E·phe′sians is the temple keeper of the great Ar′te·mis and of the image that fell from heaven? 36 Since these things are indisputable, you should keep calm and not act rashly. 37 For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess. 38 So if De·me′tri·us+ and the craftsmen with him do have a case against someone, court days are held and there are proconsuls;* let them bring charges against one another. 39 But if you are searching for anything beyond that, it must be decided in a regular assembly. 40 For we are really in danger of being charged with sedition over today’s affair, since there are no grounds we could present as a reason for this disorderly mob.” 41 And after saying this, he dismissed the assembly.

 

 

20 When the uproar had subsided, Paul sent for the disciples, and after he had encouraged them and said farewell, he began his journey to Mac·e·do′ni·a. 2 After going through those regions and giving many words of encouragement to the ones there, he arrived in Greece. 3 He spent three months there, but because a plot was hatched against him by the Jews+ when he was about to set sail for Syria, he made up his mind to return through Mac·e·do′ni·a. 4 He was accompanied by Sop′a·ter the son of Pyr′rhus of Be·roe′a, Ar·is·tar′chus+ and Se·cun′dus of the Thes·sa·lo′ni·ans, Ga′ius of Der′be, Timothy+ and, from the province of Asia, Tych′i·cus+ and Troph′i·mus.+ 5 These men went on ahead and were waiting for us in Tro′as; 6 but we put out to sea from Phi·lip′pi after the days of the Unleavened Bread,+ and within five days we came to them in Tro′as, and there we spent seven days.

7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to have a meal, Paul began addressing them, as he was going to depart the next day; and he prolonged his speech until midnight. 8 So there were quite a few lamps in the upper room where we were gathered together. 9 Seated at the window, a young man named Eu′ty·chus sank into a deep sleep while Paul kept talking, and overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was picked up dead. 10 But Paul went downstairs, threw himself on him and embraced him,+ and said: “Stop making a commotion, for he is alive.”*+ 11 He then went upstairs and began the meal* and ate. He continued conversing for quite a while, until daybreak, and then he departed. 12 So they took the boy away alive and were comforted beyond measure.

13 We now went ahead to the ship and set sail for As′sos, where we were intending to take Paul aboard, for after giving instructions to this effect, he was intending to go there on foot. 14 So when he caught up with us in As′sos, we took him aboard and went to Mit·y·le′ne. 15 And sailing away from there the next day, we arrived off Chi′os, but the day after that, we touched at Sa′mos, and on the following day, we arrived at Mi·le′tus. 16 Paul had decided to sail past Eph′e·sus+ so as not to spend any time in the province of Asia, for he was hurrying to get to Jerusalem+ on the day of the Festival of Pentecost if he possibly could.

17 However, from Mi·le′tus he sent word to Eph′e·sus and called for the elders of the congregation. 18 When they came to him, he said to them: “You well know how I conducted myself among you from the first day I stepped into the province of Asia,+ 19 slaving for the Lord with all humility*+ and with tears and trials that befell me by the plots of the Jews, 20 while I did not hold back from telling you any of the things that were profitable* nor from teaching you publicly+ and from house to house.+ 21 But I thoroughly bore witness both to Jews and to Greeks about repentance+ toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus.+ 22 And now look! bound in* the spirit, I am traveling to Jerusalem, although not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that from city to city the holy spirit repeatedly bears witness to me, saying that imprisonment and tribulations are waiting for me.+ 24 Nevertheless, I do not consider my own life* of any importance to me,* if only I may finish my course+ and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear thorough witness to the good news of the undeserved kindness of God.

25 “And now look! I know that none of you among whom I preached the Kingdom will ever see my face again. 26 So I call you to witness this very day that I am clean from the blood of all men,+ 27 for I have not held back from telling you all the counsel* of God.+ 28 Pay attention to yourselves+ and to all the flock, among which the holy spirit has appointed you overseers,+ to shepherd the congregation of God,+ which he purchased with the blood of his own Son.+ 29 I know that after my going away oppressive wolves will enter in among you+ and will not treat the flock with tenderness, 30 and from among you yourselves men will rise and speak twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves.+

31 “Therefore keep awake, and bear in mind that for three years,+ night and day, I never stopped admonishing each one of you with tears. 32 And now I entrust you to God and to the word of his undeserved kindness, which word can build you up and give you the inheritance among all the sanctified ones.+ 33 I have desired no man’s silver or gold or clothing.+ 34 You yourselves know that these hands have provided for my own needs+ and the needs of those with me. 35 I have shown you in all things that by working hard in this way,+ you must assist those who are weak and must keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus, when he himself said: ‘There is more happiness in giving+ than there is in receiving.’”

36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37 Indeed, quite a bit of weeping broke out among them all, and they embraced Paul* and affectionately* kissed him, 38 for they were especially pained at the word he had spoken that they would not see his face anymore.+ Then they accompanied him to the ship.

Iron and clay III

Acts11-15NWT(2013 Edition)

11 Now the apostles and the brothers who were in Ju·de′a heard that people of the nations had also accepted the word of God. 2 So when Peter came up to Jerusalem, the supporters of circumcision+ began to criticize* him, 3 saying: “You went into the house of men who were not circumcised and ate with them.” 4 At this Peter went on to explain the matter in detail to them, saying:

5 “I was in the city of Jop′pa praying, and while in a trance I saw a vision, something* descending like a great linen sheet being let down by its four corners from heaven, and it came right down to me.+ 6 Looking closely into it, I observed four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles,* and birds of heaven. 7 I also heard a voice say to me: ‘Get up, Peter, slaughter and eat!’ 8 But I said: ‘Certainly not, Lord, because a defiled or unclean thing has never entered my mouth.’ 9 The second time, the voice from heaven answered: ‘You stop calling defiled the things God has cleansed.’ 10 This happened a third time, and everything was pulled up again into heaven. 11 Also just at that moment, three men were standing at the house where we were staying, having been sent to me from Caes·a·re′a.+ 12 Then the spirit told me to go with them, not doubting at all. But these six brothers also went with me, and we entered into the house of the man.

13 “He reported to us how he saw the angel stand in his house and say: ‘Send men to Jop′pa and summon Simon who is called Peter,+ 14 and he will tell you things by which you and all your household may get saved.’ 15 But when I started to speak, the holy spirit fell on them just as it did also on us in the beginning.+ 16 At this I recalled the saying of the Lord, how he used to say: ‘John baptized with water,+ but you will be baptized with holy spirit.’+ 17 If, therefore, God gave the same free gift to them that he gave to us who have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I should be able to hinder God?”*+

18 When they heard these things, they stopped objecting,* and they glorified God, saying: “So, then, God has also granted to people of the nations repentance leading to life.”+

19 Now those who had been scattered+ by the tribulation that arose over Stephen went as far as Phoe·ni′cia, Cy′prus, and Antioch, but they spoke the word only to the Jews.+ 20 However, some of the men among them from Cy′prus and Cy·re′ne came to Antioch and began talking to the Greek-speaking people, declaring the good news of the Lord Jesus. 21 Furthermore, the hand of Jehovah* was with them, and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord.+

22 The report about them reached the ears of the congregation in Jerusalem, and they sent out Bar′na·bas+ as far as Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the undeserved kindness of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all to continue in the Lord with heartfelt resolve;+ 24 for he was a good man and full of holy spirit and faith. And a considerable crowd was added to the Lord.+ 25 So he went to Tarsus to make a thorough search for Saul.+ 26 After he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year they assembled with them in the congregation and taught quite a crowd, and it was first in Antioch that the disciples were by divine providence called Christians.+

27 In those days prophets+ came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them named Ag′a·bus+ stood up and foretold through the spirit that a great famine was about to come on the entire inhabited earth,+ which, in fact, did take place in the time of Claudius. 29 So the disciples determined, each according to what he could afford,+ to send relief*+ to the brothers living in Ju·de′a; 30 and this they did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Bar′na·bas and Saul.+

 

12 About that time Herod the king began mistreating some of those of the congregation.+ 2 He put James the brother of John+ to death by the sword.+ 3 When he saw that it was pleasing to the Jews, he also went on to arrest Peter. (This was during the days of the Unleavened Bread.)+ 4 He seized him and put him in prison,+ turning him over to four shifts of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out* before the people after the Passover. 5 So Peter was being kept in the prison, but the congregation was intensely praying to God for him.+

6 When Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping bound with two chains between two soldiers, and guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison. 7 But look! Jehovah’s* angel was standing there,+ and a light shone in the prison cell. Hitting Peter on the side, he woke him, saying: “Get up quickly!” And the chains fell off his hands.+ 8 The angel said to him: “Get dressed* and put on your sandals.” He did so. Finally he said to him: “Put your outer garment on, and keep following me.” 9 And he went out and kept following him, but he did not know that what was happening through the angel was real. In fact, he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 Going past the first sentinel guard and the second, they reached the iron gate leading into the city, and this opened to them by itself. After they went out, they made their way down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. 11 And Peter, realizing what was happening, said: “Now I know for sure that Jehovah* sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s hand and from everything that the Jews were expecting to happen.”+

12 After he realized this, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John who was called Mark,+ where quite a few were gathered together and were praying. 13 When he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the call. 14 On recognizing the voice of Peter, she was so overjoyed that she did not open the gate, but ran inside and reported that Peter was standing at the gateway. 15 They said to her: “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so. They began to say: “It is his angel.” 16 But Peter remained there, knocking. When they opened the door, they saw him and were astonished. 17 But he motioned to them with his hand to be silent and told them in detail how Jehovah* had brought him out of the prison, and he said: “Report these things to James+ and the brothers.” With that he went out and traveled to another place.

18 Now when it became day, there was quite a disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. 19 Herod made a diligent search for him, and not finding him, he interrogated the guards and commanded them to be led off to punishment;+ and he went down from Ju·de′a to Caes·a·re′a and spent some time there.

20 Now he was in an angry* mood against the people of Tyre and Si′don. So they came to him with one purpose, and after persuading Blastus, the man in charge of the king’s household affairs,* they sued for peace, because their country was supplied with food from the land of the king. 21 On a set day, Herod clothed himself with royal raiment and sat down on the judgment seat and began giving them a public address. 22 Then the people who were assembled began shouting: “A god’s voice, and not a man’s!” 23 Instantly the angel of Jehovah* struck him, because he did not give the glory to God, and he was eaten up with worms and died.

24 But the word of Jehovah* went on growing and spreading.+

25 As for Bar′na·bas+ and Saul, after fully carrying out the relief work in Jerusalem,+ they returned and took along with them John,+ the one also called Mark.

 

 

 

13 Now in Antioch there were prophets and teachers in the local congregation:+ Bar′na·bas, Sym′e·on who was called Ni′ger, Lucius of Cy·re′ne, Man′a·en who was educated with Herod the district ruler, and Saul. 2 As they were ministering* to Jehovah* and fasting, the holy spirit said: “Set aside for me Bar′na·bas and Saul+ for the work to which I have called them.”+ 3 Then after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

4 So these men, sent out by the holy spirit, went down to Se·leu′cia, and from there they sailed away to Cy′prus. 5 When they arrived in Sal′a·mis, they began proclaiming the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as an attendant.*+

6 When they had gone through the whole island as far as Pa′phos, they met up with a Jewish man named Bar-Je′sus, who was a sorcerer and a false prophet. 7 He was with the proconsul* Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. Calling Bar′na·bas and Saul to him, this man was eager to hear the word of God. 8 But El′y·mas the sorcerer (for that is how his name is translated) began opposing them, trying to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 Then Saul, also called Paul, becoming filled with holy spirit, looked at him intently 10 and said: “O man full of every sort of fraud and every sort of villainy, you son of the Devil,+ you enemy of everything righteous, will you not quit distorting the right ways of Jehovah?* 11 Look! Jehovah’s* hand is upon you, and you will be blind, not seeing the sunlight for a time.” Instantly a thick mist and darkness fell on him, and he went around trying to find someone to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul, on seeing what had happened, became a believer, for he was astounded at the teaching of Jehovah.*

13 Now Paul and his companions put out to sea from Pa′phos and arrived at Perga in Pam·phyl′i·a. But John+ left them and returned to Jerusalem.+ 14 However, they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pi·sid′i·a. And going into the synagogue+ on the Sabbath day, they took a seat. 15 After the public reading of the Law+ and the Prophets, the presiding officers of the synagogue sent word to them, saying: “Men, brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, tell it.” 16 So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand, he said:

“Men, Israelites and you others who fear God, listen. 17 The God of this people Israel chose our forefathers, and he exalted the people while they lived as foreigners in the land of Egypt and brought them out of it with an uplifted arm.+ 18 And for a period of about 40 years, he put up with them in the wilderness.+ 19 After destroying seven nations in the land of Ca′naan, he assigned their land as an inheritance.+ 20 All of that was during about 450 years.

“After this he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.+ 21 But afterward they demanded a king,+ and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin,+ for 40 years. 22 After removing him, he raised up for them David as king,+ about whom he bore witness and said: ‘I have found David the son of Jes′se+ a man agreeable to my heart;+ he will do all the things I desire.’ 23 According to his promise, from the offspring* of this man, God has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus.+ 24 Before the arrival of that one, John had preached publicly to all the people of Israel baptism in symbol of repentance.+ 25 But as John was finishing his course, he would say: ‘What do you suppose I am? I am not he. But look! One is coming after me the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’+

26 “Men, brothers, you descendants of Abraham’s family and those others among you who fear God, the word of this salvation has been sent to us.+ 27 For the inhabitants of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize this one, but when acting as judges, they fulfilled the things spoken by the Prophets,+ which are read aloud every sabbath. 28 Even though they found no cause for death,+ they demanded of Pilate to have him executed.+ 29 And when they had accomplished all the things written about him, they took him down from the stake* and laid him in a tomb.*+ 30 But God raised him up from the dead,+ 31 and for many days he became visible to those who had gone with him from Gal′i·lee up to Jerusalem. These are now his witnesses to the people.+

32 “So we are declaring to you the good news about the promise made to the forefathers. 33 God has completely fulfilled it to us, their children, by resurrecting Jesus;+ just as it is written in the second psalm: ‘You are my son; today I have become your father.’+ 34 And the fact that He resurrected him from the dead never again to return to corruption, He has stated in this way: ‘I will give you the expressions of loyal love promised to David, which are faithful.’*+ 35 So it also says in another psalm: ‘You will not allow your loyal one to see corruption.’+ 36 David, on the one hand, rendered service to God* in his own generation, fell asleep in death, was laid with his forefathers, and did see corruption.+ 37 On the other hand, the one whom God raised up did not see corruption.+

38 “Let it therefore be known to you, brothers, that through this one a forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you,+ 39 and that from all the things from which you could not be declared guiltless by means of the Law of Moses,+ everyone who believes is declared guiltless by means of this one.+ 40 Therefore, watch out that what is said in the Prophets does not come upon you: 41 ‘Look at it, you scorners, and be amazed, and perish, for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will never believe even if anyone relates it to you in detail.’”+

42 Now when they were going out, the people pleaded with them to speak about these matters on the following Sabbath. 43 So after the synagogue assembly was dismissed, many of the Jews and the proselytes who worshipped God followed Paul and Bar′na·bas, who, as they spoke to them, urged them to remain in the undeserved kindness of God.+

44 The next Sabbath nearly all the city gathered together to hear the word of Jehovah.* 45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began blasphemously contradicting the things Paul was saying.+ 46 Then Paul and Bar′na·bas boldly said to them: “It was necessary for the word of God to be spoken first to you.+ Since you are rejecting it and do not judge yourselves worthy of everlasting life, look! we turn to the nations.+ 47 For Jehovah* has commanded us in these words: ‘I have appointed you as a light of nations, for you to be a salvation to the ends of the earth.’”+

48 When those of the nations heard this, they began to rejoice and to glorify the word of Jehovah,* and all those who were rightly disposed for everlasting life became believers. 49 Furthermore, the word of Jehovah* was being spread throughout the whole country. 50 But the Jews incited the prominent women who were God-fearing and the principal men of the city, and they stirred up persecution+ against Paul and Bar′na·bas and threw them outside their boundaries. 51 So they shook the dust off their feet against them and went to I·co′ni·um.+ 52 And the disciples continued to be filled with joy+ and holy spirit.

 

 

14 Now in I·co′ni·um they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews and spoke in such a manner that a great multitude of both Jews and Greeks became believers. 2 But the Jews who did not believe stirred up and wrongly influenced the people* of the nations against the brothers.+ 3 So they spent considerable time speaking with boldness by the authority of Jehovah,* who bore witness to the word of his undeserved kindness by allowing signs and wonders* to be performed through them.+ 4 However, the multitude of the city was divided; some were for the Jews but others for the apostles. 5 When both the people of the nations and the Jews with their rulers made an attempt to treat them insolently and stone them,+ 6 they were informed of it, and they fled to the cities of Lyc·a·o′ni·a, Lys′tra and Der′be, and to the surrounding country.+ 7 There they went on declaring the good news.

8 Now in Lys′tra there was a man sitting down whose feet were crippled. He was lame from birth and had never walked. 9 This man was listening to Paul as he was speaking. Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well,+ 10 said with a loud voice: “Stand up on your feet.” So the man leaped up and began walking.+ 11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they cried out in the Lyc·a·o′ni·an language: “The gods have become like humans and have come down to us!”+ 12 And they started calling Bar′na·bas Zeus, but Paul Her′mes, since he was taking the lead in speaking. 13 And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance of the city, brought bulls and garlands* to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifices with the crowds.

14 However, when the apostles Bar′na·bas and Paul heard of it, they ripped their garments and leaped out into the crowd and cried out: 15 “Men, why are you doing these things? We too are humans having the same infirmities as you have.+ And we are declaring the good news to you, for you to turn from these vain things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all the things in them.+ 16 In past generations he permitted all the nations to go on in their ways,+ 17 although he did not leave himself without witness+ in that he did good, giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons,+ satisfying you with food and filling your hearts with gladness.”+ 18 And yet despite saying these things, they barely restrained the crowds from sacrificing to them.

19 But Jews arrived from Antioch and I·co′ni·um and persuaded the crowds,+ and they stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, imagining that he was dead.+ 20 However, when the disciples surrounded him, he got up and entered the city. On the next day he left with Bar′na·bas for Der′be.+ 21 After declaring the good news to that city and making quite a few disciples, they returned to Lys′tra, I·co′ni·um, and Antioch. 22 There they strengthened the disciples,*+ encouraging them to remain in the faith and saying: “We must enter into the Kingdom of God through many tribulations.”+ 23 Moreover, they appointed elders for them in each congregation,+ offering prayer with fasting,+ and they entrusted them to Jehovah,* in whom they had become believers.

24 Then they went through Pi·sid′i·a and came into Pam·phyl′i·a,+ 25 and after proclaiming the word in Perga, they went down to At·ta·li′a. 26 From there they sailed off for Antioch, where they had been entrusted to the undeserved kindness of God for the work they had now completed.+

27 When they had arrived and had gathered the congregation together, they related the many things God had done by means of them, and that he had opened to the nations the door to faith.+ 28 So they spent considerable time with the disciples.

 

 

 

15 Now some men came down from Ju·de′a and began to teach the brothers: “Unless you get circumcised according to the custom of Moses,+ you cannot be saved.” 2 But after quite a bit of dissension and disputing by Paul and Bar′na·bas with them, it was arranged for Paul, Bar′na·bas, and some of the others to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem+ regarding this issue.*

3 So after being escorted partway by the congregation, these men continued on through both Phoe·ni′cia and Sa·mar′i·a, relating in detail the conversion of people of the nations and bringing great joy to all the brothers. 4 On arriving in Jerusalem, they were kindly received by the congregation and the apostles and the elders, and they related the many things God had done by means of them. 5 But some of those of the sect of the Pharisees who had become believers stood up from their seats and said: “It is necessary to circumcise them and command them to observe the Law of Moses.”+

6 So the apostles and the elders gathered together to look into this matter. 7 After much intense discussion* had taken place, Peter rose and said to them: “Men, brothers, you well know that from early days God made the choice among you that through my mouth people of the nations should hear the word of the good news and believe.+ 8 And God, who knows the heart,+ bore witness by giving them the holy spirit,+ just as he did to us also. 9 And he made no distinction at all between us and them,+ but purified their hearts by faith.+ 10 So why are you now making a test of God by imposing on the neck of the disciples a yoke+ that neither our forefathers nor we were capable of bearing?+ 11 On the contrary, we have faith that we are saved through the undeserved kindness of the Lord Jesus+ in the same way that they are.”+

12 At that the entire group became silent, and they began to listen to Bar′na·bas and Paul relate the many signs and wonders* that God had done through them among the nations. 13 After they finished speaking, James replied: “Men, brothers, hear me. 14 Sym′e·on+ has related thoroughly how God for the first time turned his attention to the nations to take out of them a people for his name.+ 15 And with this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written: 16 ‘After these things I will return and raise up again the tent* of David that is fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins and restore it, 17 so that the men who remain may earnestly seek Jehovah,* together with people of all the nations, people who are called by my name, says Jehovah,* who is doing these things,+ 18 known from of old.’+ 19 Therefore, my decision* is not to trouble those from the nations who are turning to God,+ 20 but to write them to abstain from things polluted by idols,+ from sexual immorality,*+ from what is strangled,* and from blood.+ 21 For from ancient times Moses has had those who preach him in city after city, because he is read aloud in the synagogues on every sabbath.”+

22 Then the apostles and the elders, together with the whole congregation, decided to send chosen men from among them to Antioch, along with Paul and Bar′na·bas; they sent Judas who was called Bar′sab·bas and Silas,+ who were leading men among the brothers. 23 They wrote this and sent it through them:

“The apostles and the elders, your brothers, to those brothers in Antioch,+ Syria, and Ci·li′cia who are from the nations: Greetings! 24 Since we have heard that some went out from among us and caused you trouble with what they have said,+ trying to subvert you,* although we did not give them any instructions, 25 we have come to a unanimous decision to choose men to send to you together with our beloved Bar′na·bas and Paul, 26 men who have given up their lives* for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.+ 27 We are therefore sending Judas and Silas, so that they also may report the same things by word of mouth.+ 28 For the holy spirit+ and we ourselves have favored adding no further burden to you except these necessary things: 29 to keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols,+ from blood,+ from what is strangled,*+ and from sexual immorality.*+ If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper. Good health to you!”*

30 So when these men were dismissed, they went down to Antioch, and they gathered the whole group together and handed them the letter. 31 After reading it, they rejoiced over the encouragement. 32 And Judas and Silas, since they were also prophets, encouraged the brothers with many talks and strengthened them.+ 33 After they had spent some time there, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them. 34* —— 35 But Paul and Bar′na·bas stayed in Antioch, teaching and declaring, along with many others, the good news of the word of Jehovah.*

36 After some days, Paul said to Bar′na·bas: “Let us now* return and visit the brothers in every one of the cities where we proclaimed the word of Jehovah,* to see how they are.”+ 37 Bar′na·bas was determined to take along John, who was called Mark.+ 38 Paul, however, was not in favor of taking him along with them, seeing that he had departed from them in Pam·phyl′i·a and had not gone with them to the work.+ 39 At this there was a sharp burst of anger, so that they separated from each other; and Bar′na·bas+ took Mark along and sailed away to Cy′prus. 40 Paul selected Silas and departed after he had been entrusted by the brothers to the undeserved kindness of Jehovah.*+ 41 He went through Syria and Ci·li′cia, strengthening the congregations.