Weymouth New Testament in Modern Speech, Acts

Produced by Martin Ward

Weymouth New Testament in Modern Speech, Acts

Third Edition 1913

R. F. Weymouth

Book 44 Acts

001:001 My former narrative, Theophilus, dealt with all that Jesus
did and taught as a beginning, down to the day on which,

001:002 after giving instruction through the Holy Spirit to the Apostles
whom He had chosen, He was taken up to Heaven.

001:003 He had also, after He suffered, shown Himself alive to them
with many sure proofs, appearing to them at intervals during
forty days, and speaking of the Kingdom of God.

001:004 And while in their company He charged them not to leave
Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father's promised gift.
"This you have heard of," He said, "from me.

001:005 For John indeed baptized with water, but before many days
have passed you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

001:006 Once when they were with Him, they asked Him, "Master, is this
the time at which you are about to restore the kingdom of Israel?"

001:007 "It is not for you," He replied, "to know times or epochs
which the Father has reserved within His own authority;

001:008 and yet you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come
upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all
Judaea and Samaria and to the remotest parts of the earth."

001:009 When He had said this, and while they were looking
at Him, He was carried up, and a cloud closing beneath Him
hid Him from their sight.

001:010 But, while they stood intently gazing into the sky as He went, suddenly there were two men in white garments standing by them,

001:011 who said, "Galilaeans, why stand looking into the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken up from you into Heaven will come in just the same way as you have seen Him going into Heaven."

001:012 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called the Oliveyard, which is near Jerusalem, about a mile off.

001:013 They entered the city, and they went up to the upper room which was now their fixed place for meeting. Their names were Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the brother of James.

001:014 All of these with one mind continued earnest in prayer,
together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus,
and His brothers.

001:015 It was on one of these days that Peter stood up in the midst
of the brethren—the entire number of persons present being
about 120—and said,

001:016 "Brethren, it was necessary that the Scripture should be fulfilled— the prediction, I mean, which the Holy Spirit uttered by the lips of David, about Judas, who acted as guide to those who arrested Jesus.

001:017 For Judas was reckoned as one of our number, and a share in this ministry was allotted to him."

001:018 (Now having bought a piece of ground with the money paid for his
wickedness he fell there with his face downwards, and, his body
bursting open, he became disembowelled.

001:019 This fact became widely known to the people of Jerusalem,
so that the place received the name, in their language,
of Achel-damach, which means `The Field of Blood.')

001:020 "For it is written in the Book of Psalms, "`Let his encampment
be desolate: let there be no one to dwell there'; and "`His
work let another take up.'

001:021 "It is necessary, therefore, that of the men who have been with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us—

001:022 beginning from His baptism by John down to the day on which He was taken up again from us into Heaven—one should be appointed to become a witness with us as to His resurrection."

001:023 So two names were proposed, Joseph called Bar-sabbas—
and surnamed Justus—and Matthias.

001:024 And the brethren prayed, saying, "Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts
of all, show clearly which of these two Thou hast chosen

001:025 to occupy the place in this ministry and Apostleship from which Judas through transgression fell, in order to go to his own place."

001:026 Then they drew lots between them. The lot fell on Matthias,
and a place among the eleven Apostles was voted to him.

002:001 At length, on the day of the Harvest Festival, they had all met
in one place;

002:002 when suddenly there came from the sky a sound as of a strong
rushing blast of wind. This filled the whole house where
they were sitting;

002:003 and they saw tongues of what looked like fire distributing
themselves over the assembly, and on the head of each person
a tongue alighted.

002:004 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak
in foreign languages according as the Spirit gave them
words to utter.

002:005 Now there were Jews residing in Jerusalem, devout men from every
part of the world.

002:006 So when this noise was heard, they came crowding together,
and were amazed because everyone heard his own language spoken.

002:007 They were beside themselves with wonder, and exclaimed,
"Are not all these speakers Galilaeans?

002:008 How then does each of us hear his own native language
spoken by them?

002:009 Some of us are Parthians, Medes, Elamites. Some are inhabitants
of Mesopotamia, of Judaea or Cappadocia, of Pontus or the
Asian Province, of Phrygia or Pamphylia,

002:010 of Egypt or of the parts of Africa towards Cyrene.
Others are visitors from Rome—being either Jews or converts
from heathenism—and others are Cretans or Arabians.

002:011 Yet we all alike hear these Galilaeans speaking in our own
language about the wonderful things which God has done."

002:012 They were all astounded and bewildered, and asked one another,
"What can this mean?"

002:013 But others, scornfully jeering, said, "They are brim-full
of sweet wine."

002:014 Peter however, together with the Eleven, stood up and addressed them in a loud voice. "Men of Judaea, and all you inhabitants of Jerusalem," he said, "be in no uncertainty about this matter but pay attention to what I say.

002:015 For this is not intoxication, as you suppose, it being only the third hour of the day.

002:016 But that which was predicted through the Prophet Joel has happened:

002:017 "And it shall come to pass in the last days, God says, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all mankind; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall have dreams;

002:018 and even upon My bondservants, both men and women, at that time,
I will pour out My Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

002:019 I will display marvels in the sky above, and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire, and pillars of smoke.

002:020 The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood,
to usher in the day of the Lord—that great and illustrious day;

002:021 and every one who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'

002:022 "Listen, Israelites, to what I say. Jesus, the Nazarene, a man accredited to you from God by miracles and marvels and signs which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know, Him—

002:023 delivered up through God's settled purpose and foreknowledge—
you by the hands of Gentiles have nailed to a cross and have
put to death.

002:024 But God has raised Him to life, having terminated the throes
of death, for in fact it was not possible for Him to be held
fast by death.

002:025 For David says in reference to Him, "`I constantly fixed my
eyes upon the Lord, because He is at my right hand in order
that I may continue unshaken.

002:026 For this reason my heart is glad and my tongue exults.
My body also shall rest in hope.

002:027 For Thou wilt not leave me in the Unseen World forsaken,
nor give up Thy holy One to undergo decay.

002:028 Thou hast made known to me the ways of Life: Thou wilt fill
me with gladness in Thy presence.'

002:029 "As to the patriarch David, I need hardly remind you, brethren, that he died and was buried, and that we still have his tomb among us.

002:030 Being a Prophet, however, and knowing that God had solemnly sworn to him to seat a descendant of his upon his throne,

002:031 with prophetic foresight he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, to the effect that He was not left forsaken in the Unseen World, nor did His body undergo decay.

002:032 This Jesus, God has raised to life—a fact to which all of us testify.

002:033 "Being therefore lifted high by the mighty hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out this which you see and hear.

002:034 For David did not ascend into Heaven, but he says himself, "`The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand

002:035 until I make thy foes a footstool under thy feet.'

002:036 "Therefore let the whole House of Israel know beyond all doubt that God has made Him both LORD and CHRIST— this Jesus whom you crucified."

002:037 Stung to the heart by these words, they said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles, "Brethren, what are we to do?"

002:038 "Repent," replied Peter, "and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, with a view to the remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

002:039 For to you belongs the promise, and to your children,
and to all who are far off, whoever the Lord our God may call."

002:040 And with many more appeals he solemnly warned and entreated them,
saying, "Escape from this crooked generation."

002:041 Those, therefore, who joyfully welcomed his Message were baptized;
and on that one day about three thousand persons were
added to them;

002:042 and they were constant in listening to the teaching of the
Apostles and in their attendance at the Communion, that is,
the Breaking of the Bread, and at prayer.

002:043 Fear came upon every one, and many marvels and signs were done by the Apostles.

002:044 And all the believers kept together, and had everything in common.

002:045 They sold their lands and other property, and distributed the proceeds among all, according to every one's necessities.

002:046 And, day by day, attending constantly in the Temple with one accord,
and breaking bread in private houses, they took their meals
with great happiness and single-heartedness,

002:047 praising God and being regarded with favour by all the people.
Also, day by day, the Lord added to their number those whom
He was saving.

003:001 One day Peter and John were going up to the Temple for the hour of prayer—the ninth hour—and, just then,

003:002 some men were carrying there one who had been lame from birth, whom they were wont to place every day close to the Beautiful Gate (as it was called) of the Temple, for him to beg from the people as they went in.

003:003 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the Temple, he asked them for alms.

003:004 Peter fixing his eyes on him, as John did also, said, "Look at us."

003:005 So he looked and waited, expecting to receive something from them.

003:006 "I have no silver or gold," Peter said, "but what I have, I give you.
In the name of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene—walk!"

003:007 Then taking his hand Peter lifted him up, and immediately
his feet and ankles were strengthened.

003:008 Leaping up, he stood upright and began to walk, and went into
the Temple with them, walking, leaping, and praising God.

003:009 All the people saw him walking and praising God;

003:010 and recognizing him as the man who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple asking for alms, they were filled with awe and amazement at what had happened to him.

003:011 While he still clung to Peter and John, the people, awe-struck, ran up crowding round them in what was known as Solomon's Portico.

003:012 Peter, seeing this, spoke to the people. "Israelites," he said, "why do you wonder at this man? Or why gaze at us, as though by any power or piety of our own we had enabled him to walk?

003:013 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our forefathers, has conferred this honour on His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to let Him go.

003:014 Yes, you disowned the holy and righteous One, and asked
as a favour the release of a murderer.

003:015 The Prince of Life you put to death; but God has raised Him
from the dead, and we are witnesses as to that.

003:016 It is His name—faith in that name being the condition— which has strengthened this man whom you behold and know; and the faith which He has given has made this man sound and strong again, as you can all see.

003:017 "And now, brethren, I know that it was in ignorance that you
did it, as was the case with your rulers also.

003:018 But in this way God has fulfilled the declarations He made
through all the Prophets, that His Christ would suffer.

003:019 Repent, therefore, and reform your lives, so that the record of your sins may be cancelled, and that there may come seasons of revival from the Lord,

003:020 and that He may send the Christ appointed beforehand for you—even Jesus.

003:021 Heaven must receive Him until those times of which God has spoken
from the earliest ages through the lips of His holy Prophets—
the times of the reconstitution of all things.

003:022 Moses declared, "`The Lord your God will raise up a Prophet
for you from among your brethren as He has raised me.
In all that He says to you, you must listen to Him.

003:023 And every one, without exception, who refuses to listen to that
Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the People.'

003:024 Yes, and all the Prophets, from Samuel onwards—all who have spoken—
have also announced the coming of this present time.

003:025 "You are the heirs of the Prophets, and of the Covenant which God
made with your forefathers when He said to Abraham, `And through
your posterity all the families of the world shall be blessed.'

003:026 It is to you first that God, after raising His Servant from
the grave, has sent Him to bless you, by causing every one
of you to turn from your wickedness."

004:001 While they were saying this to the people, the Priests,
the Commander of the Temple Guard, and the Sadducees
came upon them,

004:002 highly incensed at their teaching the people and proclaiming
in the case of Jesus the Resurrection from among the dead.

004:003 They arrested the two Apostles and lodged them in custody till
the next day; for it was already evening.

004:004 But many of those who had listened to their preaching believed;
and the number of the adult men had now grown to be about 5,000.

004:005 The next day a meeting was held in Jerusalem of their
Rulers, Elders, and Scribes,

004:006 with Annas the High Priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and the
other members of the high-priestly family.

004:007 So they made the Apostles stand in the centre, and demanded
of them, "By what power or in what name have you done this?"

004:008 Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he replied,
"Rulers and Elders of the people,

004:009 if we to-day are under examination concerning the benefit conferred on a man helplessly lame, as to how this man has been cured;

004:010 be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that through the name of Jesus the Anointed, the Nazarene, whom *you* crucified, but whom *God* has raised from among the dead—through that name this man stands here before you in perfect health.

004:011 This Jesus is the Stone treated with contempt by you the builders, but it has been made the Cornerstone.

004:012 And in no other is the great salvation to be found; for, in fact, there is no second name under Heaven that has been given among men through which we are to be saved."

004:013 As they looked on Peter and John so fearlessly outspoken— and also discovered that they were illiterate persons, untrained in the schools—they were surprised; and now they recognized them as having been with Jesus.

004:014 And seeing the man standing with them—the man who had been cured—
they had no reply to make.

004:015 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin while they
conferred among themselves.

004:016 "What are we to do with these men?" they asked one another; for the fact that a remarkable miracle has been performed by them is well known to every one in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

004:017 But to prevent the matter spreading any further among the people, let us stop them by threats from speaking in the future in this name to any one whatever."

004:018 So they recalled the Apostles, and ordered them altogether
to give up speaking or teaching in the name of Jesus.

004:019 But Peter and John replied, "Judge whether it is right in God's
sight to listen to you instead of listening to God.

004:020 As for us, what we have seen and heard we cannot
help speaking about."

004:021 The Court added further threats and then let them go, being quite unable to find any way of punishing them on account of the people, because all gave God the glory for the thing that had happened.

004:022 For the man was over forty years of age on whom this miracle
of restoration to health had been performed.

004:023 After their release the two Apostles went to their friends,
and told them all that the High Priests and Elders had said.

004:024 And they, upon hearing the story, all lifted up their voices
to God and said, "O Sovereign Lord, it is Thou who didst make
Heaven and earth and sea, and all that is in them,

004:025 and didst say through the Holy Spirit by the lips of our forefather
David Thy servant, "`Why have the nations stamped and raged,
and the peoples formed futile plans?

004:026 The kings of the earth came near, and the rulers assembled together against the Lord and against His Anointed.'"

004:027 "They did indeed assemble in this city in hostility to Thy holy Servant Jesus whom Thou hadst anointed—Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and also the tribes of Israel—

004:028 to do all that Thy power and Thy will had predetermined
should be done.

004:029 And now, Lord, listen to their threats, and enable Thy servants
to proclaim Thy Message with fearless courage,

004:030 whilst Thou stretchest out Thine arm to cure men, and to give
signs and marvels through the name of Thy holy Servant Jesus."

004:031 When they had prayed, the place in which they were assembled shook,
and they were, one and all, filled with the Holy Spirit,
and proceeded to tell God's Message with boldness.

004:032 Among all those who had embraced the faith there was but one heart
and soul, so that none of them claimed any of his possessions
as his own, but everything they had was common property;

004:033 while the Apostles with great force of conviction delivered
their testimony as to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus;
and great grace was upon them all.

004:034 And, in fact, there was not a needy man among them,
for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them,
and brought the money which they realised,

004:035 and gave it to the Apostles, and distribution was made to every
one according to his wants.

004:036 In this way Joseph, whom the Apostles gave the name of Bar-nabas—
signifying `Son of Encouragement'—a Levite, a native of Cyprus,

004:037 sold a farm which he had, and brought the money and gave it
to the Apostles.

005:001 There was a man of the name of Ananias who, with his wife Sapphira,
sold some property but,

005:002 with her full knowledge and consent, dishonestly kept back
part of the price which he received for it, though he brought
the rest and gave it to the Apostles.

005:003 "Ananias," said Peter, "why has Satan taken possession of your heart,
that you should try to deceive the Holy Spirit and dishonestly
keep back part of the price paid you for this land?

005:004 While it remained unsold, was not the land your own?
And when sold, was it not at your own disposal?
How is it that you have cherished this design in your heart?
It is not to men you have told this lie, but to God."

005:005 Upon hearing these words Ananias fell down dead, and all who
heard the words were awe-struck.

005:006 The younger men, however, rose, and wrapping the body up,
carried it out and buried it.

005:007 About three hours had passed, when his wife came in,
knowing nothing of what had happened.

005:008 Peter at once questioned her. "Tell me," he said, "whether you sold the land for so much." "Yes," she replied, "for so much."

005:009 "How was it," replied Peter, "that you two agreed to try an experiment upon the Spirit of the Lord? The men who have buried your husband are already at the door, and they will carry you out."

005:010 Instantly she fell down dead at his feet, and the young men came in and found her dead. So they carried her out and buried her by her husband's side.

005:011 This incident struck terror into the whole Church, and into the hearts of all who heard of it.

005:012 Many signs and marvels continued to be done among the people by the Apostles; and by common consent they all met in Solomon's Portico.

005:013 But none of the others dared to attach themselves to them.
Yet the people held them in high honour—

005:014 and more and more believers in the Lord joined them,
including great numbers both of men and women—

005:015 so that they would even bring out their sick friends into
the streets and lay them on light couches or mats, in order
that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall
on one or other of them.

005:016 The inhabitants, too, of the towns in the neighbourhood
of Jerusalem came in crowds, bringing sick persons and some
who were harassed by foul spirits, and they were cured,
one and all.

005:017 This roused the High Priest. He and all his party—the sect of the Sadducees—were filled with angry jealousy

005:018 and laid hands upon the Apostles, and put them into the public jail.

005:019 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison
doors and brought them out, and said,

005:020 "Go and stand in the Temple, and go on proclaiming to the people
all this Message of Life."

005:021 Having received that command they went into the Temple, just before daybreak, and began to teach: So when the High Priest and his party came, and had called together the Sanhedrin as well as all the Elders of the descendants of Israel, they sent to the jail to fetch the Apostles.

005:022 But the officers went and could not find them in the prison. So they came back and brought word,

005:023 saying, "The jail we found quite safely locked, and the warders
were on guard at the doors, but upon going in we found
no one there."

005:024 When the Commander of the Temple Guards and the High Priests heard
this statement, they were utterly at a loss with regard to it,
wondering what would happen next.

005:025 And some one came and brought them word, saying, "The men you
put in prison are actually in the Temple, standing there,
teaching the people."

005:026 Upon this the Commander went with the officers, and brought
the Apostles; but without using violence; for they were afraid
of being stoned by the people.

005:027 So they brought them and made them stand in front of the Sanhedrin.
And then the High Priest questioned them.

005:028 "We strictly forbad you to teach in that name—did we not?" he said. "And see, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and are trying to make us responsible for that man's death!"

005:029 Peter and the other Apostles replied, "We must obey God
rather than man.

005:030 The God of our forefathers has raised Jesus to life, whom you
crucified and put to death.

005:031 God has exalted Him to His right hand as Chief Leader and as Saviour,
to give Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins.

005:032 And we—and the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him—
are witnesses as to these things."

005:033 Infuriated at getting this answer, they were disposed to
kill the Apostles.

005:034 But a Pharisee of the name of Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, held in honour by all the people, rose from his seat and requested that they should be sent outside the court for a few minutes.

005:035 "Israelites," he said, "be careful what you are about to do in dealing with these men.

005:036 Years ago Theudas appeared, professing to be a person of importance,
and a body of men, some four hundred in number, joined him.
He was killed, and all his followers were dispersed and annihilated.

005:037 After him, at the time of the Census, came Judas, the Galilaean,
and was the leader in a revolt. He too perished, and all
his followers were scattered.

005:038 And now I tell you to hold aloof from these men and leave
them alone—for if this scheme or work is of human origin,
it will come to nothing.

005:039 But if it is really from God, you will be powerless to put
them down—lest perhaps you find yourselves to be actually
fighting against God."

005:040 His advice carried conviction. So they called the Apostles in, and—
after flogging them—ordered them not to speak in the name
of Jesus, and then let them go.

005:041 They, therefore, left the Sanhedrin and went their way,
rejoicing that they had been deemed worthy to suffer disgrace
on behalf of the NAME.

005:042 But they did not desist from teaching every day,
in the Temple or in private houses, and telling the Good News
about Jesus, the Christ.

006:001 About this time, as the number of disciples was increasing, complaints were made by the Greek-speaking Jews against the Hebrews because their widows were habitually overlooked in the daily ministration.

006:002 So the Twelve called together the general body of the disciples
and said, "It does not seem fitting that we Apostles should
neglect the delivery of God's Message and minister at tables.

006:003 Therefore, brethren, pick out from among yourselves seven
men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom,
and we will appoint them to undertake this duty.

006:004 But, as for us, we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the delivery of the Message."

006:005 The suggestion met with general approval, and they selected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch.

006:006 These men they brought to the Apostles, and, after prayer, they laid their hands upon them.

006:007 Meanwhile God's Message continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem very greatly increased, and very many priests obeyed the faith.

006:008 And Stephen, full of grace and power, performed great marvels and signs among the people.

006:009 But some members of the so-called `Synagogue of the Freed-men,' together with some Cyrenaeans, Alexandrians, Cilicians and men from Roman Asia, were roused to encounter Stephen in debate.

006:010 They were quite unable, however, to resist the wisdom and
the Spirit with which he spoke.

006:011 Then they privately put forward men who declared, "We have heard
him speak blasphemous things against Moses and against God."

006:012 In this way they excited the people, the Elders, and the Scribes.
At length they came upon him, seized him with violence,
and took him before the Sanhedrin.

006:013 Here they brought forward false witnesses who declared,
"This fellow is incessantly speaking against the Holy Place
and the Law.

006:014 For we have heard him say that Jesus, the Nazarene, will pull
this place down to the ground and will change the customs
which Moses handed down to us."

006:015 At once the eyes of all who were sitting in the Sanhedrin
were fastened on him, and they saw his face looking just
like the face of an angel.

007:001 Then the High Priest asked him, "Are these statements true?"

007:002 The reply of Stephen was, "Sirs—brethren and fathers—listen to me. God Most Glorious appeared to our forefather Abraham when he was living in Mesopotamia, before he settled in Haran,

007:003 and said to him, "`Leave your country and your relatives, and go into whatever land I point out to you.'

007:004 "Thereupon he left Chaldaea and settled in Haran till after the death of his father, when God caused him to remove into this country where you now live.

007:005 But he gave him no inheritance in it, no, not a single square yard of ground. And yet He promised to bestow the land as a permanent possession on him and his posterity after him— and promised this at a time when Abraham was childless.

007:006 And God declared that Abraham's posterity should for four
hundred years make their home in a country not their own,
and be reduced to slavery and be oppressed.

007:007 "`And the nation, whichever it is, that enslaves them,
I will judge,' said God; `and afterwards they shall come out,
and they shall worship Me in this place.'

007:008 "Then He gave him the Covenant of circumcision, and under this Covenant he became the father of Isaac—whom he circumcised on the eighth day. Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve Patriarchs.

007:009 "The Patriarchs were jealous of Joseph and sold him into slavery in Egypt. But God was with him

007:010 and delivered him from all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him governor over Egypt and all the royal household.

007:011 But there came a famine throughout the whole of Egypt and Canaan—
and great distress—so that our forefathers could find no food.

007:012 When, however, Jacob heard that there was wheat to be had,
he sent our forefathers into Egypt; that was the first time.

007:013 On their second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers,
and Pharaoh was informed of Joseph's parentage.

007:014 Then Joseph sent and invited his father Jacob and all his family,
numbering seventy-five persons, to come to him,

007:015 and Jacob went down into Egypt. There he died, and so
did our forefathers,

007:016 and they were taken to Shechem and were laid in the tomb
which Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem
for a sum of money paid in silver.

007:017 "But as the time drew near for the fulfilment of the promise
which God had made to Abraham, the people became many times
more numerous in Egypt,

007:018 until there arose a foreign king over Egypt who knew nothing of Joseph.

007:019 He adopted a crafty policy towards our race, and oppressed our forefathers, making them cast out their infants so that they might not be permitted to live.

007:020 At this time Moses was born—a wonderfully beautiful child;
and for three months he was cared for in his father's house.

007:021 At length he was cast out, but Pharaoh's daughter adopted him,
and brought him up as her own son.

007:022 So Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and possessed great influence through his eloquence and his achievements.

007:023 "And when he was just forty years old, it occurred to him to visit his brethren the descendants of Israel.

007:024 Seeing one of them wrongfully treated he took his part, and secured justice for the ill-treated man by striking down the Egyptian.

007:025 He supposed his brethren to be aware that by him God was sending them deliverance; this, however, they did not understand.

007:026 The next day, also, he came and found two of them fighting, and he endeavoured to make peace between them. "`Sirs,' he said, `you are brothers. Why are you wronging one another?'

007:027 "But the man who was doing the wrong resented his interference, and asked, "`Who appointed you magistrate and judge over us?

007:028 Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?'

007:029 "Alarmed at this question, Moses fled from the country and went
to live in the land of Midian. There he became the father
of two sons.

007:030 "But at the end of forty years there appeared to him in the Desert
of Mount Sinai an angel in the middle of a flame of fire
in a bush.

007:031 When Moses saw this he wondered at the sight; but on his going
up to look further, the voice of the Lord was heard, saying,

007:032 "`I am the God of your forefathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac,
and of Jacob.' "Quaking with fear Moses did not dare gaze.

007:033 "`Take off your shoes,' said the Lord, `for the spot on which you
are standing is holy ground.

007:034 I have seen, yes, I have seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt and have heard their groans, and I have come down to deliver them. And now I will send you to Egypt.'

007:035 "The Moses whom they rejected, asking him, `Who appointed you magistrate and judge?'—that same Moses we find God sending as a magistrate and a deliverer by the help of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.

007:036 This was he who brought them out, after performing marvels
and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea, and in the Desert
for forty years.

007:037 This is the Moses who said to the descendants of Israel, "`God
will raise up a Prophet for you, from among your brethren,
just as He raised me up.'

007:038 `This is he who was among the Congregation in the Desert, together with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai and with our forefathers, who received ever-living utterances to hand on to us.

007:039 "Our forefathers, however, would not submit to him, but spurned his authority and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.

007:040 They said to Aaron, "`Make gods for us, to march in front of us;
for as for this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt,
we do not know what has become of him.'

007:041 "Moreover they made a calf at that time, and offered a sacrifice
to the idol and kept rejoicing in the gods which their own
hands had made.

007:042 So God turned from them and gave them up to the worship of the Host of Heaven, as it is written in the Book of the Prophets, "'Were they victims and sacrifices which you offered Me, forty years in the Desert, O House of Israel?

007:043 Yes, you lifted up Moloch's tent and the Star of the God Rephan—
the images which you made in order to worship them;
and I will remove you beyond Babylon.'

007:044 "Our forefathers had the Tent of the Testimony in the Desert,
built as He who spoke to Moses had instructed him to make it
in imitation of the model which he had seen.

007:045 That Tent was bequeathed to the next generation of our forefathers. Under Joshua they brought it with them when they were taking possession of the land of the Gentile nations, whom God drove out before them. So it continued till David's time.

007:046 David obtained favour with God, and asked leave to provide a dwelling-place for the God of Jacob.

007:047 But it was Solomon who built a house for Him.

007:048 Yet the Most High does not dwell in buildings erected by men's hands. But, as the Prophet declares,

007:049 "`The sky is My throne, and earth is the footstool for My feet. What kind of house will you build for Me, says the Lord, or what resting place shall I have?

007:050 Did not My hand form this universe.'

007:051 "O stiff-necked men, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you also are continually at strife with the Holy Spirit— just as your forefathers were.

007:052 Which of the Prophets did not your forefathers persecute? Yes, they killed those who announced beforehand the advent of the righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become—

007:053 you who received the Law given through angels, and yet have
not obeyed it."

007:054 As they listened to these words, they became infuriated
and gnashed their teeth at him.

007:055 But, full of the Holy Spirit and looking up to Heaven, Stephen saw
the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God's right hand.

007:056 "I can see Heaven wide open," he said, "and the Son of Man
standing at God's right hand."

007:057 Upon this, with a loud outcry they stopped their ears,
rushed upon Stephen in a body,

007:058 dragged him out of the city, and stoned him, the witnesses throwing off their outer garments and giving them into the care of a young man called Saul.

007:059 So they stoned Stephen, while he prayed, "Lord Jesus,
receive my spirit."

007:060 Then, rising on his knees, he cried aloud, "Lord, do not reckon
this sin against them." And with these words he fell asleep.

008:001 And Saul fully approved of his murder. At this time a great persecution broke out against the Church in Jerusalem, and all except the Apostles were scattered throughout Judaea and Samaria.

008:002 A party of devout men, however, buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him.

008:003 But Saul cruelly harassed the Church. He went into house after house, and, dragging off both men and women, threw them into prison.

008:004 Those, however, who were scattered abroad went from place
to place spreading the Good News of God's Message;

008:005 while Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed
Christ there.

008:006 Crowds of people, with one accord, gave attention to what they heard from him, listening, and witnessing the signs which he did.

008:007 For, with a loud cry, foul spirits came out of many possessed by them, and many paralytics and lame persons were restored to health.

008:008 And there was great joy in that city.

008:009 Now for some time past there had been a man named Simon living there, who had been practising magic and astonishing the Samaritans, pretending that he was more than human.

008:010 To him people of all classes paid attention, declaring, "This man
is the Power of God, known as the great Power."

008:011 His influence over them arose from their having been,
for a long time, bewildered by his sorceries.

008:012 But when Philip began to tell the Good News about the Kingdom
of God and about the Name of Jesus Christ, and they embraced
the faith, they were baptized, men and women alike.

008:013 Simon himself also believed, and after being baptized remained
in close attendance on Philip, and was full of amazement
at seeing such signs and such great miracles performed.

008:014 When the Apostles in Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had
accepted God's Message, they sent Peter and John to visit them.

008:015 They, when they came down, prayed for them that they might
receive the Holy Spirit:

008:016 for He had not as yet fallen upon any of them. They had only
been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

008:017 Then the Apostles placed their hands upon them, and they
received the Holy Spirit.

008:018 When, however, Simon saw that it was through the laying on of the Apostles' hands that the Spirit was bestowed, he offered them money.

008:019 "Give me too," he said, "that power, so that every one on whom
I place my hands will receive the Holy Spirit."

008:020 "Perish your money and yourself," replied Peter, "because you
have imagined that you can obtain God's free gift with money!

008:021 No part or lot have you in this matter, for your heart is not
right in God's sight.

008:022 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord, in the hope that the purpose which is in your heart may perhaps be forgiven you.

008:023 For I perceive that you have fallen into the bitterest
bondage of unrighteousness."

008:024 "Pray, both of you, to the Lord for me," answered Simon,
"that nothing of what you have said may come upon me."

008:025 So the Apostles, after giving a solemn charge and delivering
the Lord's Message, travelled back to Jerusalem, making known
the Good News also in many of the Samaritan villages.

008:026 And an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Rise and proceed
south to the road that runs down from Jerusalem to Gaza,
crossing the Desert."

008:027 Upon this he rose and went. Now, as it happened, an Ethiopian eunuch who was in a position of high authority with Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, as her treasurer, had visited Jerusalem to worship there,

008:028 and was now on his way home; and as he sat in his chariot he was reading the Prophet Isaiah.

008:029 Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go and enter that chariot."

008:030 So Philip ran up and heard the eunuch reading the Prophet Isaiah. "Do you understand what you are reading?" he asked.

008:031 "Why, how can I," replied the eunuch, "unless some one explains
it to me?" And he earnestly invited Philip to come up
and sit with him.

008:032 The passage of Scripture which he was reading was this:
"Like a sheep He was led to slaughter, and just as a lamb
before its shearer is dumb so He opened not His mouth.

008:033 In His humiliation justice was denied Him. Who will make
known His posterity? For He is destroyed from among men."

008:034 "Pray, of whom is the Prophet speaking?" inquired the eunuch;
"of himself or of some one else?"

008:035 Then Philip began to speak, and, commencing with that same
portion of Scripture, told him the Good News about Jesus.

008:036 So they proceeded on their way till they came to some water; and the eunuch exclaimed, "See, here is water; what is there to prevent my being baptized?"

008:037 []

008:038 So he stopped the chariot; and both of them—Philip and the eunuch— went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

008:039 But no sooner had they come up out of the water than the Spirit of
the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again.
With a glad heart he resumed his journey;

008:040 but Philip found himself at Ashdod. Then visiting town
after town he everywhere made known the Good News until
he reached Caesarea.

009:001 Now Saul, whose every breath was a threat of destruction for the disciples of the Lord,

009:002 went to the High Priest and begged from him letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, in order that if he found any believers there, either men or women, he might bring them in chains to Jerusalem.