English Standard Version  
Chapter 7
Stephen's Speech
1And the high priest said, “Are these things so?”
2And Stephen said:
“Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,
3and said to him, ‘Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will show you.’
4Then he went out from the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran. And after his father died, God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living.
5Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot's length, but promised to give it to him as a possession and to his offspring after him, though he had no child.
6And God spoke to this effect—that his offspring would be sojourners in a land belonging to others, who would enslave them and afflict them four hundred years.
7‘But I will judge the nation that they serve,’ said God, ‘and after that they shall come out and worship me in this place.’
8And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.
9“And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him
10and rescued him out of all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household.
11Now there came a famine throughout all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers could find no food.
12But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers on their first visit.
13And on the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph's family became known to Pharaoh.
14And Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his kindred, seventy-five persons in all.
15And Jacob went down into Egypt, and he died, he and our fathers,
16and they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.
17“But as the time of the promise drew near, which God had granted to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt
18until there arose over Egypt another king who did not know Joseph.
19He dealt shrewdly with our race and forced our fathers to expose their infants, so that they would not be kept alive.
20At this time Moses was born; and he was beautiful in God's sight. And he was brought up for three months in his father's house,
21and when he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son.
22And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds.
23“When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel.
24And seeing one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian.
25He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand.
26And on the following day he appeared to them as they were quarreling and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why do you wrong each other?’
27But the man who was wronging his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?
28Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’
29At this retort Moses fled and became an exile in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons.
30“Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush.
31When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight, and as he drew near to look, there came the voice of the Lord:
32‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob.’ And Moses trembled and did not dare to look.
33Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.
34I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.’
35“This Moses, whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.
36This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years.
37This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.’
38This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. He received living oracles to give to us.
39Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt,
40saying to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’
41And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and were rejoicing in the works of their hands.
42But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets:
“‘Did you bring to me slain beasts and sacrifices,
during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
43You took up the tent of Moloch
and the star of your god Rephan,
the images that you made to worship;
and I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.’
44“Our fathers had the tent of witness in the wilderness, just as he who spoke to Moses directed him to make it, according to the pattern that he had seen.
45Our fathers in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our fathers. So it was until the days of David,
46who found favor in the sight of God and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.Some manuscripts for the house of Jacob
47But it was Solomon who built a house for him.
48Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says,
49“‘Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord,
or what is the place of my rest?
50Did not my hand make all these things?’
51“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.
52Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered,
53you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”
The Stoning of Stephen
54Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him.
55But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
56And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
57But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed togetherOr rushed with one mind at him.
58Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
60And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Chapter 8
Saul Ravages the Church
1And Saul approved of his execution.
And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him.
3But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
Philip Proclaims Christ in Samaria
4Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.
5Philip went down to the citySome manuscripts a city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.
6And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip when they heard him and saw the signs that he did.
7For unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, crying with a loud voice, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.
8So there was much joy in that city.
Simon the Magician Believes
9But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great.
10They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.”
11And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic.
12But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miraclesGreek works of power performed, he was amazed.
14Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John,
15who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,
16for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
17Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
18Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,
19saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!
21You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.
22Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.
23For I see that you are in the gallThat is, a bitter fluid secreted by the liver; bile of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.”
24And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”
25Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.
Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
26Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the southOr go at about noon to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place.
27And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship
28and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.
29And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.”
30So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
31And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
32Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:
“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter
and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opens not his mouth.
33In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”
34And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?”
35Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.
36And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”Some manuscripts add all or most of verse 37: And Philip said, &ldblquot;If you believe with all your heart, you may.&rdblquot; And he replied, &ldblquot;I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.&rdblquot;
37
38And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
39And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.
40But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
Chapter 9
The Conversion of Saul
1But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
2and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
3Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
4And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
5And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
6But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”
7The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.
8Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
9And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”
11And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying,
12and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.”
13But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem.
14And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.”
15But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.
16For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”
17So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
18And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized;
19and taking food, he was strengthened.
For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.
Saul Proclaims Jesus in Synagogues
20And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”
21And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?”
22But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
Saul Escapes from Damascus
23When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him,
24but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him,
25but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall,Greek through the wall lowering him in a basket.
Saul in Jerusalem
26And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple.
27But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.
28So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.
29And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists.That is, Greek-speaking Jews But they were seeking to kill him.
30And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
31So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
The Healing of Aeneas
32Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.
33There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed.
34And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose.
35And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
Dorcas Restored to Life
36Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas.The Aramaic name Tabitha and the Greek name Dorcas both mean gazelle She was full of good works and acts of charity.
37In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.
38Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.”
39So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunicsGreek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.
40But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.
41And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
42And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
43And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.

LOADING .......