The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV

by John MacArthur

  14“And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all iwho call on Your name.”

  15But the Lord said to him, “Go, for jhe is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before kGentiles, lkings, and the mchildren3 of Israel.

  16“For nI will show him how many things he must suffer for My oname’s sake.”

  17pAnd Ananias went his way and entered the house; and qlaying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord 4Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and rbe filled with the Holy Spirit.”

  18Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

  19So when he had received food, he was strengthened. sThen Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.

  Saul Preaches Christ

  20Immediately he preached 5the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

  21Then all who heard were amazed, and said, t“Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?”

  22But Saul increased all the more in strength, uand confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.

  Saul Escapes Death

  23Now after many days were past, vthe Jews plotted to kill him.

  24wBut their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him.

  25Then the disciples took him by night and xlet him down through the wall in a large basket.

  Saul at Jerusalem

  26And ywhen Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.

  27zBut Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, aand how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

  28So bhe was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out.

  29And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the cHellenists,6 dbut they attempted to kill him.

  30When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus.

  The Church Prospers

  31eThen the 7churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were fedified.8 And walking in the gfear of the Lord and in the hcomfort of the Holy Spirit, they were imultiplied.

  Aeneas Healed

  32Now it came to pass, as Peter went jthrough all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda.

  33There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed.

  34And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, kJesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose immediately.

  35So all who dwelt at Lydda and lSharon saw him and mturned to the Lord.

  Dorcas Restored to Life

  36At Joppa there was a certain disciple named 9Tabitha, which is translated 10Dorcas. This woman was full nof good works and charitable deeds which she did.

  37But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in oan upper room.

  38And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them.

  39Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.

  40But Peter pput them all out, and qknelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he rsaid, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.

  41Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

  42And it became known throughout all Joppa, sand many believed on the Lord.

  43So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with tSimon, a tanner.

  Acts 10

  Cornelius Sends a Delegation

  1There was a certain man in aCaesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian 1Regiment,

  2ba devout man and one who cfeared God with all his household, who gave 2alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.

  3About 3the ninth hour of the day dhe saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”

  4And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.

  5“Now esend men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter.

  6“He is lodging with fSimon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. gHe4 will tell you what you must do.”

  7And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually.

  8So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.

  Peter’s Vision

  9The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, hPeter went up on the housetop to pray, about 5the sixth hour.

  10Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance

  11and isaw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth.

  12In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.

  13And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”

  14But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! jFor I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”

  15And a voice spoke to him again the second time, k“What God has 6cleansed you must not call common.”

  16This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.

  Summoned to Caesarea

  17Now while Peter 7wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate.

  18And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.

  19While Peter thought about the vision, lthe Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you.

  20m“Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”

  21Then Peter went down to the men 8who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?”

  22And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and nhas a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.”

  23Then he invited them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter went away with them, oand some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

  Peter Meets Cornelius

  24And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends.

  25As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.

  26But Peter lifted him up, saying, p“Stand up; I myself am also a man.”

  27And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together.

  28Then he said to them, “You know how qunlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But rGod has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

  29“Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?”

  30So Cornelius said, 9“Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, sa man stood b
efore me tin bright clothing,

  31“and said, ‘Cornelius, uyour prayer has been heard, and vyour 10alms are remembered in the sight of God.

  32‘Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. 11When he comes, he will speak to you.’

  33“So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”

  Preaching to Cornelius’ Household

  34Then Peter opened his mouth and said: w“In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.

  35“But xin every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is yaccepted by Him.

  36“The word which God sent to the 12children of Israel, zpreaching peace through Jesus Christ—aHe is Lord of all—

  37“that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and bbegan from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:

  38“how cGod anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who dwent about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, efor God was with Him.

  39“And we are fwitnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom 13they gkilled by hanging on a tree.

  40“Him hGod raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly,

  41i“not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us jwho ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.

  42“And kHe commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify lthat it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge mof the living and the dead.

  43n“To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, owhoever believes in Him will receive premission14 of sins.”

  The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles

  44While Peter was still speaking these words, qthe Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.

  45rAnd 15those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, sbecause the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.

  46For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered,

  47“Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit tjust as we have?”

  48uAnd he commanded them to be baptized vin the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

  Acts 11

  Peter Defends God’s Grace

  1Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.

  2And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, athose of the circumcision contended with him,

  3saying, b“You went in to uncircumcised men cand ate with them!”

  4But Peter explained it to them din order from the beginning, saying:

  5e“I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me.

  6“When I observed it intently and considered, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.

  7“And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’

  8“But I said, ‘Not so, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.’

  9“But the voice answered me again from heaven, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’

  10“Now this was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven.

  11“At that very moment, three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent to me from Caesarea.

  12“Then fthe Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover gthese six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house.

  13h“And he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter,

  14‘who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.’

  15“And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, ias upon us at the beginning.

  16“Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, j‘John indeed baptized with water, but kyou shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

  17l“If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, mwho was I that I could withstand God?”

  18When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, n“Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”

  Barnabas and Saul at Antioch

  19oNow those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only.

  20But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to pthe Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus.

  21And qthe hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and rturned to the Lord.

  22Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out sBarnabas to go as far as Antioch.

  23When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and tencouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.

  24For he was a good man, ufull of the Holy Spirit and of faith. vAnd a great many people were added to the Lord.

  25Then Barnabas departed for wTarsus to seek Saul.

  26And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

  Relief to Judea

  27And in these days xprophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch.

  28Then one of them, named yAgabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of zClaudius Caesar.

  29Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send arelief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.

  30bThis they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

  Acts 12

  Herod’s Violence to the Church

  1Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church.

  2Then he killed James athe brother of John with the sword.

  3And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during bthe Days of Unleavened Bread.

  4So cwhen he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four 1squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.

  Peter Freed from Prison

  5Peter was therefore kept in prison, but 2constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.

  6And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were 3keeping the prison.

  7Now behold, dan angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands.

  8Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.”

  9So he went out and followed him, and edid not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought fhe was seeing a vision.

  10When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, gwhich opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.

  11And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that hthe Lord has sent His angel, and ihas delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”

 
; 12So, when he had considered this, jhe came to the house of Mary, the mother of kJohn whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together lpraying.

  13And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer.

  14When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate.

  15But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, m“It is his angel.”

  16Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.

  17But nmotioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place.

  18Then, as soon as it was day, there was no small 4stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter.

  19But when Herod had searched for him and not found him, he examined the guards and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.

  Herod’s Violent Death

  20Now Herod had been very angry with the people of oTyre and Sidon; but they came to him with one accord, and having made Blastus 5the king’s personal aide their friend, they asked for peace, because ptheir country was 6supplied with food by the king’s country.

  21So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them.

  22And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!”

  23Then immediately an angel of the Lord qstruck him, because rhe did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and 7died.

  24But sthe word of God grew and multiplied.

  Barnabas and Saul Appointed

  25And tBarnabas and Saul returned 8from Jerusalem when they had ufulfilled their ministry, and they also vtook with them wJohn whose surname was Mark.

  Acts 13

  Paul and Barnabas Are Sent to the Gentiles

  1Now ain the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: bBarnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, cLucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.