Acts 12:20-25 - Jon B

Acts 12:20–25 (ESV)

Acts 12:20 Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food.
Acts 12:21 On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them.
Acts 12:22 And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!”
Acts 12:23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.
Acts 12:24 But the word of God increased and multiplied.
Acts 12:25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark.

Acts 12:1-19 - Jon B

Acts 12:1–19 (ESV)

Acts 12:1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. Acts 12:2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword,
Acts 12:3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread.
Acts 12:4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.
Acts 12:5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. Acts 12:6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison.
Acts 12:7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands.
Acts 12:8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.”
Acts 12:9 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
Acts 12:10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him.
Acts 12:11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”
Acts 12:12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.
Acts 12:13 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer.
Acts 12:14 Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate.
Acts 12:15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!”
Acts 12:16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed.
Acts 12:17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.
Acts 12:18 Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter.
Acts 12:19 And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.

Acts 11:19-30 - Jon B

Acts 11:19–30 (ESV)

Acts 11:19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews.
Acts 11:20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus.
Acts 11:21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.
Acts 11:22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
Acts 11:23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose,
Acts 11:24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.
Acts 11:25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
Acts 11:26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.
Acts 11:27 Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
Acts 11:28 And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius).
Acts 11:29 So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.
Acts 11:30 And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

Acts 11:1-18 - Dan Harper

Acts 11:1–18 (ESV)

Acts 11:1 Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.
Acts 11:2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying,
Acts 11:3 “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.”
Acts 11:4 But Peter began and explained it to them in order:
Acts 11:5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me.
Acts 11:6 Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air.
Acts 11:7 And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’
Acts 11:8 But I said, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’
Acts 11:9 But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’
Acts 11:10 This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven.
Acts 11:11 And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea.
Acts 11:12 And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house.
Acts 11:13 And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter;
Acts 11:14 he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’
Acts 11:15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning.
Acts 11:16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
Acts 11:17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”
Acts 11:18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

Acts 10:34-48 - Jon B

Acts 10:34–48 (ESV)

Acts 10:34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality,
Acts 10:35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
Acts 10:36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),
Acts 10:37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed:
Acts 10:38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
Acts 10:39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree,
Acts 10:40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear,
Acts 10:41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
Acts 10:42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.
Acts 10:43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Acts 10:44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word.
Acts 10:45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles.
Acts 10:46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared,
Acts 10:47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”
Acts 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

Acts 10:1-33 - Jon B

Acts 10:1–33 (ESV)

Acts 10:1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort,
Acts 10:2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.
Acts 10:3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.”
Acts 10:4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.
Acts 10:5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter.
Acts 10:6 He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
Acts 10:7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him,
Acts 10:8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
Acts 10:9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray.
Acts 10:10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance
Acts 10:11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth.
Acts 10:12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air.
Acts 10:13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”
Acts 10:14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”
Acts 10:15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.”
Acts 10:16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.
Acts 10:17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate
Acts 10:18 and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there.
Acts 10:19 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.
Acts 10:20 Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.”
Acts 10:21 And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?”
Acts 10:22 And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.”
Acts 10:23 So he invited them in to be his guests. The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.
Acts 10:24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
Acts 10:25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.
Acts 10:26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.”
Acts 10:27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered.
Acts 10:28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.
Acts 10:29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”
Acts 10:30 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing
Acts 10:31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God.
Acts 10:32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’
Acts 10:33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

Acts 9:32-43 - Jon B

Acts 9:32–43 (ESV)

Acts 9:32 Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.
Acts 9:33 There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed.
Acts 9:34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose.
Acts 9:35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
Acts 9:36 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity.
Acts 9:37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.
Acts 9:38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.”
Acts 9:39 So 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 tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.
Acts 9:40 But 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.
Acts 9:41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
Acts 9:42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
Acts 9:43 And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.