Who, what, why, when, where, and how — read the book introduction
Acts 1–28 available · Reviewed and cleared by the author.
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Learn about the sources and coverage →The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that Gentiles, too, had welcomed God’s message.
And the apostles and brethren that were in Judæa heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
Ἤκουσαν δὲ οἱ ἀπόστολοι καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ οἱ ὄντες κατὰ τὴν Ἰουδαίαν ὅτι καὶ τὰ ἔθνη ἐδέξαντο τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ.
Ēkousan de hoi apostoloi kai hoi adelphoi hoi ontes kata tēn Ioudaian hoti kai ta ethnē edexanto ton logon tou theou.
When Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers challenged him.
And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,
Καὶ ὅτε ἀνέβη Πέτρος εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα, διεκρίνοντο πρὸς αὐτὸν οἱ ἐκ περιτομῆς,
Kai hote anebē Petros eis Hierosolyma, diekrinonto pros auton hoi ek peritomēs,
“You went into the home of uncircumcised men and shared a meal with them!” they said.
Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.
λέγοντες ὅτι Πρὸς ἄνδρας ἀκροβυστίαν ἔχοντας εἰσῆλθες, καὶ συνέφαγες αὐτοῖς.
legontes hoti Pros andras akrobystian echontas eisēlthes, kai synephages autois.
Peter began at the beginning and explained what had happened, step by step.
But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,
Ἀρξάμενος δὲ ὁ Πέτρος ἐξετίθετο αὐτοῖς καθεξῆς λέγων,
Arxamenos de ho Petros exetitheto autois kathexēs legōn,
“I was praying in Joppa,” he said, “when I entered a trance and saw a vision. Something like a huge sheet was being lowered from heaven by its four corners until it reached me.
I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:
Ἐγὼ ἤμην ἐν πόλει Ἰόππῃ προσευχόμενος, καὶ εἶδον ἐν ἐκστάσει ὅραμα, καταβαῖνον σκεῦός τι, ὡς ὀθόνην μεγάλην τέσσαρσιν ἀρχαῖς καθιεμένην ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, καὶ ἦλθεν ἄχρι ἐμοῦ∙
Egō ēmēn en polei Ioppē proseuchomenos, kai eidon en ekstasei horama, katabainon skeuos ti, hōs othonēn megalēn tessarsin archais kathiemenēn ek tou ouranou, kai ēlthen achri emou;
“I looked carefully inside and saw four-footed creatures, wild animals, crawling creatures, and birds.
Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
εἰς ἣν ἀτενίσας κατενόουν, καὶ εἶδον τὰ τετράποδα τῆς γῆς καὶ τὰ θηρία καὶ τὰ ἑρπετὰ καὶ τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ.
eis hēn atenisas katenooun, kai eidon ta tetrapoda tēs gēs kai ta thēria kai ta herpeta kai ta peteina tou ouranou.
“Then I heard a voice tell me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill something and eat.’
And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.
Ἤκουσα δὲ φωνῆς λεγούσης μοι, Ἀναστάς, Πέτρε, θῦσον καὶ φάγε.
Ēkousa de phōnēs legousēs moi, Anastas, Petre, thyson kai phage.
“‘Certainly not, Lord!’ I answered. ‘Nothing defiled or ceremonially unclean has ever passed my lips.’
But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.
Εἶπον δέ, Μηδαμῶς, κύριε∙ ὅτι πᾶν κοινὸν ἢ ἀκάθαρτον οὐδέποτε εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸ στόμα μου.
Eipon de, Mēdamōs, kyrie; hoti pan koinon ē akatharton oudepote eisēlthen eis to stoma mou.
“But the voice from heaven spoke a second time: ‘Do not treat as defiled what God has made clean.’
But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
Ἀπεκρίθη δέ μοι φωνὴ ἐκ δευτέρου ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, Ἃ ὁ θεὸς ἐκαθάρισεν, σὺ μὴ κοίνου.
Apekrithē de moi phōnē ek deuterou ek tou ouranou, Ha ho theos ekatharisen, sy mē koinou.
“This happened three times, and then everything was pulled back up into heaven.
And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.
Τοῦτο δὲ ἐγένετο ἐπὶ τρίς, καὶ πάλιν ἀνεσπάσθη ἅπαντα εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν.
Touto de egeneto epi tris, kai palin anespasthē hapanta eis ton ouranon.
“At that very moment, three men arrived at the house where I was staying. They had been sent from Caesarea to find me.
And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Cæsarea unto me.
Καὶ ἰδού, ἐξαυτῆς τρεῖς ἄνδρες ἐπέστησαν ἐπὶ τὴν οἰκίαν ἐν ᾗ ἤμην, ἀπεσταλμένοι ἀπὸ Καισαρείας πρός με.
Kai idou, exautēs treis andres epestēsan epi tēn oikian en hē ēmēn, apestalmenoi apo Kaisareias pros me.
“The Spirit told me to accompany them without hesitation. These six brothers went along with me, and we entered the man’s home.1
And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house:
Εἶπεν δέ μοι τὸ πνεῦμα συνελθεῖν αὐτοῖς, μηδὲν διακρινόμενον. Ἦλθον δὲ σὺν ἐμοὶ καὶ οἱ ἓξ ἀδελφοὶ οὗτοι, καὶ εἰσήλθομεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ ἀνδρός∙
Eipen de moi to pneuma synelthein autois, mēden diakrinomenon. Ēlthon de syn emoi kai hoi hex adelphoi houtoi, kai eisēlthomen eis ton oikon tou andros;
“He told us that he had seen an angel standing in his house. The angel had said, ‘Send men to Joppa and ask Simon, also known as Peter, to come.
And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;
ἀπήγγειλέν τε ἡμῖν πῶς εἶδεν τὸν ἄγγελον ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ σταθέντα, καὶ εἰπόντα αὐτῷ, Ἀπόστειλον εἰς Ἰόππην ἄνδρας, καὶ μετάπεμψαι Σίμωνα, τὸν ἐπικαλούμενον Πέτρον,
apēngeilen te hēmin pōs eiden ton angelon en tō oikō autou stathenta, kai eiponta autō, Aposteilon eis Ioppēn andras, kai metapempsai Simōna, ton epikaloumenon Petron,
“‘He will bring you a message through which you and your entire household will be saved.’2
Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
ὃς λαλήσει ῥήματα πρός σε, ἐν οἷς σωθήσῃ σὺ καὶ πᾶς ὁ οἶκός σου.
hos lalēsei rhēmata pros se, en hois sōthēsē sy kai pas ho oikos sou.
“As I began speaking, the Holy Spirit came upon them, just as He had come upon us at the beginning.
And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
Ἐν δὲ τῷ ἄρξασθαί με λαλεῖν, ἐπέπεσεν τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον ἐπ’ αὐτούς, ὥσπερ καὶ ἐφ’ ἡμᾶς ἐν ἀρχῇ.
En de tō arxasthai me lalein, epepesen to pneuma to hagion ep’ autous, hōsper kai eph’ hēmas en archē.
“Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized people with water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.’
Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
Ἐμνήσθην δὲ τοῦ ῥήματος κυρίου, ὡς ἔλεγεν, Ἰωάννης μὲν ἐβάπτισεν ὕδατι, ὑμεῖς δὲ βαπτισθήσεσθε ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ.
Emnēsthēn de tou rhēmatos kyriou, hōs elegen, Iōannēs men ebaptisen hydati, hymeis de baptisthēsesthe en pneumati hagiō.
“God gave them the very same gift He gave us when we put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. How could I possibly stand in God’s way?”
Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
Εἰ οὖν τὴν ἴσην δωρεὰν ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ὁ θεὸς ὡς καὶ ἡμῖν, πιστεύσασιν ἐπὶ τὸν κύριον Ἰησοῦν χριστόν, ἐγὼ δὲ τίς ἤμην δυνατὸς κωλῦσαι τὸν θεόν;
Ei oun tēn isēn dōrean edōken autois ho theos hōs kai hēmin, pisteusasin epi ton kyrion Iēsoun christon, egō de tis ēmēn dynatos kōlysai ton theon?
After hearing this, they stopped objecting and gave glory to God. “So God has also given the Gentiles repentance that brings life!” they said.3
When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
Ἀκούσαντες δὲ ταῦτα ἡσύχασαν, καὶ ἐδόξαζον τὸν θεόν, λέγοντες, Ἄρα γε καὶ τοῖς ἔθνεσιν ὁ θεὸς τὴν μετάνοιαν ἔδωκεν εἰς ζωήν.
Akousantes de tauta hēsychasan, kai edoxazon ton theon, legontes, Ara ge kai tois ethnesin ho theos tēn metanoian edōken eis zōēn.
Meanwhile, the believers scattered by the persecution surrounding Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. They shared the message only with Jewish people.4
¶ Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
Οἱ μὲν οὖν διασπαρέντες ἀπὸ τῆς θλίψεως τῆς γενομένης ἐπὶ Στεφάνῳ διῆλθον ἕως Φοινίκης καὶ Κύπρου καὶ Ἀντιοχείας, μηδενὶ λαλοῦντες τὸν λόγον εἰ μὴ μόνον Ἰουδαίοις.
Hoi men oun diasparentes apo tēs thlipseōs tēs genomenēs epi Stephanō diēlthon heōs Phoinikēs kai Kyprou kai Antiocheias, mēdeni lalountes ton logon ei mē monon Ioudaiois.
Some of them, however, were men from Cyprus and Cyrene who came to Antioch and spoke to Greek-speaking people, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus.5
And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.
Ἦσαν δέ τινες ἐξ αὐτῶν ἄνδρες Κύπριοι καὶ Κυρηναῖοι, οἵτινες εἰσελθόντες εἰς Ἀντιόχειαν, ἐλάλουν πρὸς τοὺς Ἑλληνιστάς, εὐαγγελιζόμενοι τὸν κύριον Ἰησοῦν.
Ēsan de tines ex autōn andres Kyprioi kai Kyrēnaioi, hoitines eiselthontes eis Antiocheian, elaloun pros tous Hellēnistas, euangelizomenoi ton kyrion Iēsoun.
The Lord’s power was at work with them, and large numbers believed and turned to Him.
And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
Καὶ ἦν χεὶρ κυρίου μετ’ αὐτῶν∙ πολύς τε ἀριθμὸς πιστεύσας ἐπέστρεψεν ἐπὶ τὸν κύριον.
Kai ēn cheir kyriou met’ autōn; polys te arithmos pisteusas epestrepsen epi ton kyrion.
News about them reached the church in Jerusalem, which sent Barnabas to Antioch.
¶ Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
Ἠκούσθη δὲ ὁ λόγος εἰς τὰ ὦτα τῆς ἐκκλησίας τῆς ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις περὶ αὐτῶν∙ καὶ ἐξαπέστειλαν Βαρνάβαν διελθεῖν ἕως Ἀντιοχείας∙
Ēkousthē de ho logos eis ta ōta tēs ekklēsias tēs en Hierosolymois peri autōn; kai exapesteilan Barnaban dielthein heōs Antiocheias;
When he arrived and saw God’s grace at work, he was delighted. He encouraged everyone to remain devoted to the Lord with a firm resolve in their hearts.
Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
ὃς παραγενόμενος καὶ ἰδὼν τὴν χάριν τοῦ θεοῦ ἐχάρη, καὶ παρεκάλει πάντας τῇ προθέσει τῆς καρδίας προσμένειν τῷ κυρίῳ∙
hos paragenomenos kai idōn tēn charin tou theou echarē, kai parekalei pantas tē prothesei tēs kardias prosmenein tō kyriō;
Barnabas was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith, and many more people were brought to the Lord.
For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
ὅτι ἦν ἀνὴρ ἀγαθὸς καὶ πλήρης πνεύματος ἁγίου καὶ πίστεως∙ καὶ προσετέθη ὄχλος ἱκανὸς τῷ κυρίῳ.
hoti ēn anēr agathos kai plērēs pneumatos hagiou kai pisteōs; kai prosetethē ochlos hikanos tō kyriō.
Then Barnabas left for Tarsus to search for Saul.
Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
Ἐξῆλθεν δὲ εἰς Ταρσὸν ὁ Βαρνάβας ἀναζητῆσαι Σαῦλον,
Exēlthen de eis Tarson ho Barnabas anazētēsai Saulon,
When he found him, he brought him to Antioch. For an entire year, the two met with the church and taught large numbers of people. Antioch was where the disciples first became known as Christians.6
And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
καὶ εὑρὼν ἤγαγεν αὐτὸν εἰς Ἀντιόχειαν. Ἐγένετο δὲ αὐτοὺς ἐνιαυτὸν ὅλον συναχθῆναι τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ καὶ διδάξαι ὄχλον ἱκανόν, χρηματίσαι τε πρῶτον ἐν Ἀντιοχείᾳ τοὺς μαθητὰς Χριστιανούς.
kai heurōn ēgagen auton eis Antiocheian. Egeneto de autous eniauton holon synachthēnai tē ekklēsia kai didaxai ochlon hikanon, chrēmatisai te prōton en Antiocheia tous mathētas Christianous.
During this period, prophets came from Jerusalem down to Antioch.7
¶ And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
Ἐν ταύταις δὲ ταῖς ἡμέραις κατῆλθον ἀπὸ Ἱεροσολύμων προφῆται εἰς Ἀντιόχειαν.
En tautais de tais hēmerais katēlthon apo Hierosolymōn prophētai eis Antiocheian.
One of them, Agabus, stood and made known through the Spirit that a severe famine was coming across the inhabited world. This happened during the reign of Claudius Caesar.8
And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Cæsar.
Ἀναστὰς δὲ εἷς ἐξ αὐτῶν ὀνόματι Ἄγαβος, ἐσήμανεν διὰ τοῦ πνεύματος λιμὸν μέγαν μέλλειν ἔσεσθαι ἐφ’ ὅλην τὴν οἰκουμένην∙ ὅστις καὶ ἐγένετο ἐπὶ Κλαυδίου Καίσαρος.
Anastas de heis ex autōn onomati Agabos, esēmanen dia tou pneumatos limon megan mellein esesthai eph’ holēn tēn oikoumenēn; hostis kai egeneto epi Klaudiou Kaisaros.
The disciples decided that each would contribute what they could afford to help the believers living in Judea.
Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judæa:
Τῶν δὲ μαθητῶν καθὼς εὐπορεῖτό τις, ὥρισαν ἕκαστος αὐτῶν εἰς διακονίαν πέμψαι τοῖς κατοικοῦσιν ἐν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ ἀδελφοῖς∙
Tōn de mathētōn kathōs euporeito tis, hōrisan hekastos autōn eis diakonian pempsai tois katoikousin en tē Ioudaia adelphois;
They followed through, entrusting the aid to Barnabas and Saul to deliver to the elders.
Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
ὃ καὶ ἐποίησαν, ἀποστείλαντες πρὸς τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους διὰ χειρὸς Βαρνάβα καὶ Σαύλου.
ho kai epoiēsan, aposteilantes pros tous presbyterous dia cheiros Barnaba kai Saulou.