17 18 After these things I will return, And I will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen; And I will build again the ruins thereof, And I will set it up: may seek after the Lord, And all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, Saith the Lord, who maketh these things known from the beginning of the world. 19 Wherefore my judgement is, that we trouble not them which from among the Gen20 tiles turn to God; but that we 2 write unto them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is 21 strangled, and from blood. For ancient authorities omit which went out. 4 Or, exhortation 5 Or, comforted Moses from generations of old hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath. Then it seemed good to the 22 apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: and they 23 wrote thus by them, The apoIstles and the elder brethren unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greeting: Forasmuch as we have 24 heard that certain 3 which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls; to whom we gave no commandment; it seemed good 25 unto us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men that have hazarded their 26 lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent 27 therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves also shall tell you the same things by word of mouth. For it seemed good 28 to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; that ye abstain from 29 things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, it shall be well with you. Fare ye well. So they, when they were 30 dismissed, came down to Antioch; and having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle. And 31 when they had read it, they rejoiced for the 4 consolation. And Judas and Silas, being 32 themselves also prophets, 5 ex ancient authorities in of the apostles and elders that were at Jerusalem. So the 5 churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily. And they went through the 6 region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden of the Holy Ghost to speak the word in Asia; and when they were come over against Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia; and the Spirit of Jesus suffered them not; and passing 8 by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared 9 to Paul in the night; There was a man of Macedonia standing, beseeching him, and saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And 10 when he had seen the vision, straightway we sought to go forth into Macedonia, conclud 39 work. And there arose a sharp sert, with ing that God had called us for contention, so that they parted asunder one from the other, and Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away unto Cy40 prus; but Paul chose Silas, and went forth, being commended by the brethren to the grace 41 of the Lord. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches. 16 And he came also to Derbe and to Lystra: and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess which believed; but 2 his father was a Greek. The same was well reported of by the brethren that were at 3 Lystra and Iconium. Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews that were in those parts: for they all knew that 4 his father was a Greek. And as they went on their way through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, which had been ordained variations, ver. 34 But it seemed good unto Silas to abide there. to preach the gospel unto them. Setting sail therefore from 11 Troas, we made a straight course to Samothrace, and the day following to Neapolis; and from thence to Philippi, 12 which is a city of Macedonia, the first of the district, a Roman colony: and we were in this city tarrying certain days. And on the sab- 13 bath day we went forth without the gate by a river side, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which were come together. And a certain woman 14 named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one that worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, to give heed unto the things which were spoken by Paul. And when 15 she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us. 16 And it came to pass, as we were going to the place of prayer, that a certain maid having a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by sooth 1 Gr. a spirit, a Python. dations of the prison-house were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened; and every one's bands were loosed. And the jailor being 27 roused out of sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword, and was about to kill himself, supposing 17 saying. The same following 2 Gr. bond that the prisoners had escap after Paul and us cried out, saying, These men are 2 servants of the Most High God, which proclaim unto you 3 the 18 way of salvation. And this she 19 servants. But Paul cried with a 28 ed. loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. And he called for lights, and 29 sprang in, and, trembling for did for many days. But Paul, 3 Or, a way fear, fell down before Paul being sore troubled, turned and said to the spirit, I charge thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And it came out that very hour. 4 Gr. come out. 5 Gr. prætors. 6 Some ancient authorities read God. But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they laid hold on Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace 20 before the rulers, and when they had brought them unto the 5 magistrates, they said, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, 21 and set forth customs which it is not lawful for us to receive, or to observe, being 22 Romans. And the multitude rose up together against them: and the 5 magistrates rent their garments off them, and 7 Gr. commanded to beat them 23 with rods. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to 24 keep them safely: who, having received such a charge, cast them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast 25 in the stocks. But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns unto God, and the prisoners 26 were listening to them; and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foun a table. 8 Or, having believed God 9 Gr. lictors. and Silas, and brought them 30 out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they 31 said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house. And they 32 spake the word of 6 the Lord unto him, with all that were in his house. And he took 33 them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, immediately. And he 34 brought them up into his house, and set 7 meat before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his house, 8 having believed in God. But when it was day, the 35 5 magistrates sent the 9serjeants, saying, Let those men go. And 36 the jailor reported the words to Paul, saying, The 5 magistrates have sent to let you go now therefore come forth, and go in peace. But Paul 37 said unto them, They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men that are Romans, and have cast us into prison; and do they now cast us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and bring us out. And the serjeants reported 38 these words unto the 5 magistrates and they feared, when they heard that they were 89 Romans; and they came and besought them; and when they had brought them out, they asked them to go away 40 from the city. And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and 1 Or, when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed. 17 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessafonica, where was a synagogue exhorted ately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Beroa: who when they were come thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were 11 more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the scriptures daily, whether these things were so. Many of them 12 therefore believed; also of the Greek women of honourable estate, and of men, not a few. 2 of the Jews: and Paul, as 2Or, weeks But when the Jews of Thessa- 13 his custom was, went in unto them, and for three 2 sabbath days reasoned with them from 3 the scriptures, opening and alleging, that it behoved the Christ to suffer, and to rise again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom, said he, I proclaim unto you, is 4 the Christ. And some of them were persuaded, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief 5 women not a few. But the Jews, being moved with jealousy, took unto them certain vile fellows of the rabble, and gathering a crowd, set the city on an uproar; and assaulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them forth to the 6 people. And when they found them not, they dragged Jason and certain brethren before the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither 7 also; whom Jason hath received: and these all act contrary to the decrees of Cæsar, saying that there is another king, one 8 Jesus. And they troubled the multitude and the rulers of the city, when they heard these 9 things. And when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go. 10 And the brethren immedi 3 Gr. the inhabited earth. 4 Gr. demons. 5 Or, before 6 Or, the hill of Mars lonica had knowledge that the word of God was proclaimed of Paul at Bercea also, they came thither likewise, stirring up and troubling the multitudes. And then immediately 14 the brethren sent forth Paul to go as far as to the sea: and Silas and Timothy abode there still. But they that conduct- 15 ed Paul brought him as far as Athens and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timothy that they should come to him with all speed, they departed. Now while Paul waited for 16 them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him, as he beheld the city full of idols. So he reasoned in the syna- 17 gogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with them that met with him. And cer- 18 tain also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, What would this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange 4gods: because he preached Jesus and the resurrection. And 19 they took hold of him, and brought him 5 unto the Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new teaching_is, which is spoken by thee? For 20 thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these 21 things mean. (Now all the Athenians and the strangers sojourning there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new 22 thing.) And Paul stood in the midst of the Arcopagus, and said, 1 Or, had 2 Or,. THE UN- appointed a day, in the which he will judge 7 the world in righteousness 8 by 9 the man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. Now when they heard of 32 the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; but others said, We will hear thee concerning this yet again. Thus 33 Paul went out from among them. But certain men clave 34 unto him, and believed: among whom also was Diony4 Or, sanc- sius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them. tuaries which is Ye men of Athens, in all things I perceive that ye are 3 Or, To 23 somewhat 2superstitious. For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, 3 TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. What therefore ye worship in ignorance, this set I 24 forth unto you. The God that made the world and all things therein, he, being Lord 5 Or, that of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in 4 temples made 25 with hands; neither is he served by men's hands, as though he needed any thing, 6 Some seeing he himself giveth to all life, and breath, and all 26 things; and he made of one every nation of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation; 27 that they should scek God, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he is not far from each one of 8 Gr. in. 28 us for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain even of your own ancient authorities read declareth to men. 7 Gr. the After these things he de- 18 parted from Athens, and came to Corinth. And he 2 found a certain Jew named Aquila, a man 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; and 3 because he was of the same trade, he abode with them, and they wrought; for by their trade they were tentmakers. And he reasoned in 4 the synagogue every sabbath, and 10 persuaded Jews and Greeks. But when Silas and Timothy 5 came down from Macedonia, Paul was constrained by the word, testifying to the Jews poets have said, For we are 9Or, a man that Jesus was the Christ. we 10 Gr. 29 also his offspring. Being then And when they opposed them- 6 selves, and 11 blasphemed, he shook out his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. And 7 he departed thence, and went into the house of a certain man named Titus Justus, one that worshipped God, whose |