About this Bible Study........The King James Version of the Bible is written in a beautiful form of the English language. It can be hard for modern English readers to understand. In this study, you will find notes and summaries in brown just above the the verses from the Bible. We recommend that you read the notes and summaries first, and then read the verses in their KJV form.
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The Book of Acts
Acts tells the story of the early Christian
church and how Christianity spread to other parts of the world. It covers the
first years of the Christian church. Most people who study the Bible feel
that Jesus' disciple, Luke, was the author of Acts. They feel that the Book of Luke
and the Book of Acts were meant to be together. They also feel that Luke may
have planned to write a third book.
The 2 important people in the Book of Acts are Peter and Paul. Some important events that happen in Acts are the coming of the Holy Spirit, the persecution of Christians, the conversion of Saul (Paul), and the spread of Christianity to other parts of the world.
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Stephen addresses the council. From FreeBibleImages.org |
From FreeBibleImages.org |
Some devoted men carried Stephen to his grave
and buried him. They cried very hard for him.
[2] And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation
over him.
Saul made things very hard on the church and the
believers. He went into every house and arrested them. He sent them to prison.
[3] As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and
haling men and women committed them to prison.
Philip preaches to large crowds in Samaria.
The believers who left Jerusalem were preaching about Jesus everywhere they
went.
[4] Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the
word.
Philip went to the city of Samaria and preached about
Jesus.
[5] Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
The crowds of people who heard Philip paid attention to
what he said. They heard and saw the miracles he did.
[6] And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip
spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
Many people were healed of their physical disabilities.
Many people who had unclean spirits in them were healed. The unclean spirits
came out of them and yelled with loud voices.
[7] For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were
possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were
healed.
Many people in the city felt great joy.
[8] And there was great joy in that city.
A man in Samaria named Simon wants to pay money for the Holy Spirit.
There was a man in Samaria named Simon. In the past, he had used witchcraft. He fooled the people in Samaria. He said he was a great person,
and they believed him. From the least person to the greatest person, they
said he was a man with God's great power.
[9] But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city
used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was
some great one:
[10] To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This
man is the great power of God.
The people always listened to Simon when he used his
witchcraft.
[11] And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them
with sorceries.
But the people heard Philip preach about Jesus and
God's kingdom. They believed what he said. Men and women were baptized.
[12] But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom
of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Simon, too, believed what Philip said about Jesus. He
was baptized. Then he stayed close to Philip and watched the miracles and signs
that Philip did.
[13] Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued
with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
The apostles in Jerusalem heard that people in Samaria
had received the word of God. They sent Peter and John to them.
[14] Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had
received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
When Peter and John got to Samaria, they prayed for the
people there. They prayed that they would receive the Holy Spirit. Before this
time, the Holy Spirit had not been on anyone there. They had been baptized in
the name of the Lord Jesus, but had not received the Holy Spirit.
[15] Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the
Holy Ghost:
[16] (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the
name of the Lord Jesus.)
Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
[17] Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Simon saw the Holy Spirit come after Peter and John
laid their lands on people. Simon offered Peter and John some money. He wanted
to have the same power. He wanted the Holy Spirit to come when he laid his hands
on people.
[18] And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy
Ghost was given, he offered them money,
[19] Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may
receive the Holy Ghost.
Peter told him that his money will die with him if he
thinks he can pay money to get God's gifts.
[20] But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast
thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
Peter said that Simon has no part in this. God sees that his heart is not right.
[21] Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right
in the sight of God.
Simon should repent and pray for God to forgive him.
[22] Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the
thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
Peter can see that Simon is bitter and evil.
[23] For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of
iniquity.
Simon asked Peter to pray for him. He wanted Peter to pray
for him so that none of the bad things Peter talked will happen to him.
[24] Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of
these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
After Peter and John preached God's word, they returned
to Jerusalem. On the way, they preached the gospel in small towns in
Samaria.
[25] And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord,
returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the
Samaritans.
Philip teaches an Ethiopian eunuch about Jesus.
"The Baptism
of the Eunuch" by Rembrandt |
An angel of the Lord talked to Philip. He told him to get up and go south on
the road that goes from Jerusalem to Gaza (in the desert).
[26] And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward
the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is
desert.
Philip obeyed God and went on the road that went south.
He met a man from Ethiopia. The man worked for the queen of Ethiopia. The
queen's name was Candace. The man was a eunuch. He was in charge of the queen's
treasures. He had been to Jerusalem to worship.
[27] And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great
authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her
treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
The Ethiopian eunuch was on his way back to Ethiopia.
He was sitting in his chariot. He was reading the words of the prophet Isaiah.
[28] Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
The Holy Spirit told Philip to go near to the Ethiopian
eunuch's chariot.
[29] Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this
chariot.
Philip ran near to the eunuch. He heard him reading the
words of Isaiah. Philip asked him if he understood what he read. The man said he
couldn't understand unless someone helped him. He asked Philip to come and sit with
him.
[30] And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and
said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
[31] And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired
Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
The scripture that the man was reading was Isaiah
53:7-8. It said:
He was led like a sheep going to be killed. He
said nothing like a lamb who is being shaved. He was humiliated and did
not have a fair trial. No one could have imagined what would happen to
him. His life was taken away because of the sinful things people did.
[32] The place of the scripture which he read was this: , He was led as a sheep to
the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his
mouth:
[33] In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his
generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
The Ethiopian man asked Philip who Isaiah was talking
about. He asked if he was talking about himself or another man.
[34] And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the
prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
Philip talked about the scripture. Then he talked to
the man about Jesus.
[35] Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached
unto him Jesus.
They continued on the road. They went by some water.
The Ethiopian eunuch saw the water. He asked if he could be baptized.
[36] And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the
eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
Philip told him he could be baptized if he believed in Jesus with all of his
heart. The Ethiopian answered and said he believed that Jesus Christ is
the Son of God.
[37] And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And
he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
He gave the order for the chariot to stop. Philip and
the Ethiopian went into the water. Philip baptized him.
[38] And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into
the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
When Philip and the Ethiopian came up out of the water,
the Holy Spirit took Philip away. The Ethiopian did not see him anymore. He
continued on this trip and was very happy.
[39] And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught
away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
Philip was at the place named Azotus. He traveled to Caesarea and preached in
the cities he traveled through.
[40] But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the
cities, till he came to Caesarea.
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Jesus asks Saul why he is persecuting Him. |
Saul was traveling and was near Damascus. Suddenly,
there was a light shining on him from heaven. He fell down on the ground. He
heard a voice talking to him. The voice asked him why he was persecuting Him.
[3] And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round
about him a light from heaven:
[4] And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why
persecutest thou me?
Saul asked the voice who He was. He said He was the
Lord Jesus. He said that Saul had been persecuting Him. Jesus used an example of
a person who is cruel to his oxen.
[5] And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou
persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
Saul was amazed and scared. He asked Jesus what
He wanted him to do. Jesus told him to get up and go into the city. Someone will
tell him what to do.
[6] And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?
And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told
thee what thou must do.
The men with Saul couldn't talk because they were
shocked. They could hear a voice, but they couldn't see anyone.
[7] And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but
seeing no man.
Saul got up from the ground. When he opened his eyes,
he couldn't see anyone. The men with him led him into Damascus.
[8] And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man:
but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
For 3 days, Saul could not see anything. He didn't eat
or drink.
[9] And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
A disciple named Ananias lived in Damascus. The
Lord Jesus called to him in a vision. Ananias answered Him. Jesus told him to
get up and go to the street named Straight Street. He should go to the house of
Judas. Then he should ask for Saul of Tarsus. Jesus told him that Saul
would be expecting him. The Lord told Saul that Ananias would come, put his hand
on him, and then he would be able to see.
[10] And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him
said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
[11] And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called
Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for,
behold, he prayeth,
[12] And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his
hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
Ananias said that he had heard of Saul. He had
heard that Saul did bad things to Christians in Jerusalem. He heard that the
chief priests in Damascus gave Saul authority to arrest anyone who prays to
Jesus.
[13] Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much
evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
[14] And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on
thy name.
The Lord told Ananias to go to Saul because Saul is
chosen by Him. He will tell the Gentiles, kings, and the Jewish people about
Jesus. Jesus will show Saul that he will suffer for speaking in Jesus' name.
[15] But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me,
to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
[16] For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
Ananias went to do what Jesus told him to do. He
entered the house and put his hands on Saul. He told him that Jesus had sent
him. Jesus had appeared to Saul, and He had appeared to Ananias. Ananias
told Saul that he will see again and will be filled with the Holy Spirit.
[17] And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands
on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the
way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be
filled with the Holy Ghost.
Very shortly, scales fell off Saul's eyes. He could see immediately. He stood up
and was baptized.
[18] And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he
received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
Saul ate, and then he was strong again. He stayed with
the disciples in Damascus. Right away, he preached about Jesus in the Jewish
synagogues. He preached that Jesus is the Son of God.
[19] And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain
days with the disciples which were at Damascus.
[20] And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of
God.
Everyone who was with him was amazed. They asked if he
was the same person who destroyed Christians in Jerusalem and came to Damascus
to arrest Christians.
[21] But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed
them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent,
that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?
Saul continued to get stronger. He confused the Jews in
Damascus when he proved that Jesus was the Christ.
[22] But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which
dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
Saul
escapes Damascus by going over the city wall in a basket. Graphic from: http://www.eborg3.com/Graphics/Bible/44-Acts/600-Acts%2009%20Paul%20Lowered%20in%20Basket1.jpg |
Several days later, the Jews made a plan to kill
Saul.
[23] And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:
Saul found out about their plan. While the Jews watched
for him at the gate at night, the disciples let Saul down over the wall in a
basket.
[24] But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day
and night to kill him.
[25] Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a
basket.
Saul meets the apostles in Jerusalem.
Saul went to Jerusalem. He wanted to join the
disciples. But, they were all afraid of him. They didn't believe he really
followed Jesus.
[26] And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the
disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a
disciple.
Barnabas took Saul to the apostles. He told them
about how Saul had seen the Lord on the road to Damascus. He told them that the
Lord spoke to Saul. Then, he told them how Saul preached about Jesus boldly in
Damascus.
[27] But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto
them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how
he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
Saul's life is threatened.
Saul was with the disciples in Jerusalem. He talked
boldly about Jesus. He argued with the people who spoke Greek. They wanted
to kill him.
[28] And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.
[29] And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the
Grecians: but they went about to slay him.
When the Christian brothers heard about this, they took
Saul down to Caesarea. Then they sent him to Tarsus.
[30] Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent
him forth to Tarsus.
Then the churches in Judaea, Galilee, and Samaria
had peace. They walked in the fear of the Lord. The Holy Ghost multiplied the
number of believers.
[31] Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria,
and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the
Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
Peter heals a man in Lydda.
Peter traveled around to different areas. One of the places he traveled
was Lydda. There were good people in Lydda. One of these was a man named Aeneas.
He had been sick in bed for 8 years. He had the palsy (shaking).
[32] And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down
also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.
[33] And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight
years, and was sick of the palsy.
Peter talked to Aeneas. He told him that Jesus Christ
makes him whole. He should get up and make his bed. Aeneas got up immediately.
[34] And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and
make thy bed. And he arose immediately.
Everyone who lived in Lydda and Saron saw Aeneas,
and they turned to the Lord.
[35] And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.
Peter heals a woman in Joppa.
There was a good woman who lived in Joppa. She was a
disciple of Jesus. Her name was Tabitha (her Greek name was Dorcas). She did
many good things and helped poor people.
[36] Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by
interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds
which she did.
Tabitha got sick and died. After she died, they
washed her and laid her in a room upstairs.
[37] And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when
they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.
Lydda was near Joppa. The disciples in Joppa heard that
Peter was in Lydda. They sent 2 men to him. They wanted him to come to Joppa
quickly.
[38] And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that
Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not
delay to come to them.
Peter heals Dorcas
(Tabitha) Graphic from: http://www.eborg3.com/Graphics/Bible/44-Acts/600-Acts%2009%20Peter%20and%20Dorcas1.jpg |
Peter got up and went with the men from Joppa. When he
arrived there, they took him to the room upstairs where Tabitha was. Some widows
were in the room, too. They were crying. They showed him coats and clothes
that Tabitha made when she was alive.
[39] Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him
into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the
coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
Peter sent them out of the room. He kneeled down and
prayed. He turned to Tabitha's body and told her to get up. Then, she opened her
eyes. She saw Peter and sat up.
[40] But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him
to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw
Peter, she sat up.
He reached his hand to her and lifted her up. He called
the other good people and widows to come back in. He showed them that Tabitha
was alive.
[41] And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the
saints and widows, presented her alive.
Many people heard about this in Joppa. Then they
believed in Jesus Christ.
[42] And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.
Peter stayed in Joppa for many days. He stayed with
Simon who was a tanner (made leather from animal skins).
[43] And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a
tanner.