Acts of the Apostles bible study chapters 8 through 14

 

This is the continuation of the study on the Acts of the Apostles which tells the early history of the church and its development. This takes the next seven chapters in the book, specifically chapters 8 through chapter 14. Here is a link to the first 7 chapters of the book

https://www.facebook.com/notes/jay-dougherty/acts-of-the-apostles-bible-study-chapters-1-through-7/10200615830331777

            Chapter 8 tells of the scattering of the church after persecution led by Saul. It then goes into detail about the ministry of Philip the apostle, first in Samaria where many miracles were done and many saved, then on to the Eunuch:

(Acts 8:1)  And 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.

 

(Acts 8:2)  Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him.

 

(Acts 8:3)  But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

 

(Acts 8:4)  Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.

 

(Acts 8:5)  Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.

 

(Acts 8:6)  And 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.

 

(Acts 8:7)  For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.

 

(Acts 8:8)  So there was much joy in that city.

 

(Acts 8:9)  But 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.

 

(Acts 8:10)  They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is the power of God that is called Great."

 

(Acts 8:11)  And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic.

 

(Acts 8:12)  But 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.

 

(Acts 8:13)  Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.

 

(Acts 8:14)  Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John,

 

(Acts 8:15)  who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,

 

(Acts 8:16)  for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

 

(Acts 8:17)  Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.

 

(Acts 8:18)  Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,

 

(Acts 8:19)  saying, "Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."

 

(Acts 8:20)  But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!

 

(Acts 8:21)  You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.

 

(Acts 8:22)  Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.

 

(Acts 8:23)  For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity."

 

(Acts 8:24)  And Simon answered, "Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me."

 

(Acts 8:25)  Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

 

(Acts 8:26)  Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is a desert place.

 

(Acts 8:27)  And 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

 

(Acts 8:28)  and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.

 

(Acts 8:29)  And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and join this chariot."

 

(Acts 8:30)  So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?"

 

(Acts 8:31)  And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

 

(Acts 8:32)  Now 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.

 

(Acts 8:33)  In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth."

 

(Acts 8:34)  And the eunuch said to Philip, "About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?"

 

(Acts 8:35)  Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.

 

(Acts 8:36)  And 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?"

 

(Acts 8:37)  [And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he replied, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."]

 

(Acts 8:38)  And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

 

(Acts 8:39)  And 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.

 

(Acts 8:40)  But 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 then details how Jesus stopped Saul’s (Paul’s) persecution by appearing to Paul and making Paul one of His own apostles, much to everyone’s amazement. Then it goes on to tell of a couple of miracles done by God through Peter:

(Acts 9:1)  But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

 

(Acts 9:2)  and 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.

 

(Acts 9:3)  Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.

 

(Acts 9:4)  And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"

 

(Acts 9:5)  And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

 

(Acts 9:6)  But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do."

 

(Acts 9:7)  The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.

 

(Acts 9:8)  Saul 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.

 

(Acts 9:9)  And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

 

(Acts 9:10)  Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord."

 

(Acts 9:11)  And 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,

 

(Acts 9:12)  and 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."

 

(Acts 9:13)  But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem.

 

(Acts 9:14)  And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name."

 

(Acts 9:15)  But 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.

 

(Acts 9:16)  For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name."

 

(Acts 9:17)  So 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."

 

(Acts 9:18)  And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized;

 

(Acts 9:19)  and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.

 

(Acts 9:20)  And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God."

 

(Acts 9:21)  And 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?"

 

(Acts 9:22)  But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

 

(Acts 9:23)  When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him,

 

(Acts 9:24)  but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him,

 

(Acts 9:25)  but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.

 

(Acts 9:26)  And 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.

 

(Acts 9:27)  But 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.

 

(Acts 9:28)  So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.

 

(Acts 9:29)  And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him.

 

(Acts 9:30)  And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

 

(Acts 9:31)  So 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.

 

(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.

 

Acts chapter 10 tells of visions had by both Peter and Cornelius, and then Peter would go on to visit and witness to Cornelius, who then accepted the Lord and was saved and all of the people belonging to him too

(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 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.

 

Chapter 11 finds Peter having to defend his trip to convert gentiles to some of the Jewish Christians, which he does, and they are happy that the gift of salvation is also for the gentiles. The church continues to grow and at Antioch the disciples are first called Christians which they still are today:

(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 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, everyone 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.

 

Chapter 12 goes on to talk about the persecution by a king Herod, who martyred James and had Peter put into prison. Peter then is freed by an angel. Herod then is struck by an angel and killed, being eaten by worms and the church continues to grow:

(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 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.

 

Chapter 13 goes on with the ministry of Paul on his missionary journey including the encounter with a sorcerer who was temporarily blinded for a time, then on to other places where he proclaimed the message was then to be given to the gentiles to be a light to them seeing as the Jews rejected it of their own free will. This incited persecution from the Jews:

(Acts 13:1)  Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

 

(Acts 13:2)  While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."

 

(Acts 13:3)  Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

 

(Acts 13:4)  So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

 

(Acts 13:5)  When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them.

 

(Acts 13:6)  When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus.

 

(Acts 13:7)  He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.

 

(Acts 13:8)  But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

 

(Acts 13:9)  But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him

 

(Acts 13:10)  and said, "You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?

 

(Acts 13:11)  And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time." Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand.

 

(Acts 13:12)  Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

 

(Acts 13:13)  Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem,

 

(Acts 13:14)  but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down.

 

(Acts 13:15)  After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, "Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it."

 

(Acts 13:16)  So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: "Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen.

 

(Acts 13:17)  The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it.

 

(Acts 13:18)  And for about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness.

 

(Acts 13:19)  And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance.

 

(Acts 13:20)  All this took about 450 years. And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.

 

(Acts 13:21)  Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.

 

(Acts 13:22)  And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, 'I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.'

 

(Acts 13:23)  Of this man's offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised.

 

(Acts 13:24)  Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

 

(Acts 13:25)  And as John was finishing his course, he said, 'What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.'

 

(Acts 13:26)  "Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation.

 

(Acts 13:27)  For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him.

 

(Acts 13:28)  And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed.

 

(Acts 13:29)  And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb.

 

(Acts 13:30)  But God raised him from the dead,

 

(Acts 13:31)  and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people.

 

(Acts 13:32)  And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers,

 

(Acts 13:33)  this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, "'You are my Son, today I have begotten you.'

 

(Acts 13:34)  And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way, "'I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.'

 

(Acts 13:35)  Therefore he says also in another psalm, "'You will not let your Holy One see corruption.'

 

(Acts 13:36)  For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption,

 

(Acts 13:37)  but he whom God raised up did not see corruption.

 

(Acts 13:38)  Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,

 

(Acts 13:39)  and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.

 

(Acts 13:40)  Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about:

 

(Acts 13:41)  "'Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.'"

 

(Acts 13:42)  As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath.

 

(Acts 13:43)  And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.

 

(Acts 13:44)  The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.

 

(Acts 13:45)  But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him.

 

(Acts 13:46)  And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, "It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.

 

(Acts 13:47)  For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, "'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'"

 

(Acts 13:48)  And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.

 

(Acts 13:49)  And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region.

 

(Acts 13:50)  But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district.

 

(Acts 13:51)  But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium.

 

(Acts 13:52)  And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

 

However many gentiles received the word and were saved.

Chapter 14 continues Paul’s missionary journey where a lame man is healed and then the people ignorantly want to worship Paul, then some Jews came and had Paul stoned and thrown out of the city but Paul came back to life and they- Paul and Barnabas- continued their journey

(Acts 14:1)  Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed.

 

(Acts 14:2)  But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.

 

(Acts 14:3)  So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

 

(Acts 14:4)  But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles.

 

(Acts 14:5)  When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them,

 

(Acts 14:6)  they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country,

 

(Acts 14:7)  and there they continued to preach the gospel.

 

(Acts 14:8)  Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked.

 

(Acts 14:9)  He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well,

 

(Acts 14:10)  said in a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet." And he sprang up and began walking.

 

(Acts 14:11)  And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!"

 

(Acts 14:12)  Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.

 

(Acts 14:13)  And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.

 

(Acts 14:14)  But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out,

 

(Acts 14:15)  "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.

 

(Acts 14:16)  In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways.

 

(Acts 14:17)  Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness."

 

(Acts 14:18)  Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.

 

(Acts 14:19)  But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.

 

(Acts 14:20)  But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.

 

(Acts 14:21)  When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,

 

(Acts 14:22)  strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

 

(Acts 14:23)  And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

 

(Acts 14:24)  Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia.

 

(Acts 14:25)  And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia,

 

(Acts 14:26)  and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled.

 

(Acts 14:27)  And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.

 

(Acts 14:28)  And they remained no little time with the disciples.

For the next part of the bible study including chapters 15 through 21 please go here

https://www.facebook.com/notes/jay-dougherty/acts-of-the-apostles-bible-study-chapters-15-through-21/10200617866582682

 

These seven chapters then show the mighty power of God in many ways, in the miraculous healings, and also the conversion of Paul. That also shows God’s mercy in that how one of Christianity’s greatest persecutors suddenly becomes one of Christianity’s greatest apostles, going on many missionary journeys and seeing many saved, despite seeing much persecution, too. God is just as merciful to us today as He was back then, and wants all to be saved as well. If you are feeling convicted and want to turn or return to Jesus, all you need to do is pray this prayer with me

Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess Jesus as our Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.

Amen.

God bless you and yours