Study Desk

Simon answered, "Both of you pray for me to the Lord so the things you have said will not happen to me."

So Philip got ready and went. On the road he saw a man from Ethiopia, a eunuch. He was an important officer in the service of Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians; he was responsible for taking care of all her money. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship.

For three days Saul could not see and did not eat or drink.

The Lord said to him, "Get up and go to Straight Street. Find the house of Judas, and ask for a man named Saul from the city of Tarsus. He is there now, praying.

But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! I have chosen Saul for an important work. He must tell about me to those who are not Jews, to kings, and to the people of Israel.

I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."

After he ate some food, his strength returned. Saul stayed with the followers of Jesus in Damascus for a few days.

There he met a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had not been able to leave his bed for the past eight years.

Peter stayed in Joppa for many days with a man named Simon who was a tanner.

When the angel who spoke to Cornelius left, Cornelius called two of his servants and a soldier, a religious man who worked for him.

While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Listen, three men are looking for you.

So Peter went down to the men and said, "I am the one you are looking for. Why did you come here?"

On the following day they came to Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

He said, "You people understand that it is against our law for Jewish people to associate with or visit anyone who is not Jewish. But God has shown me that I should not call any person ‘unholy' or ‘unclean.'

That is why I did not argue when I was asked to come here. Now, please tell me why you sent for me."

So I sent for you immediately, and it was very good of you to come. Now we are all here before God to hear everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us."

So Peter ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

Then Barnabas went to the city of Tarsus to look for Saul,

and when he found Saul, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year Saul and Barnabas met with the church and taught many people there. In Antioch the followers were called Christians for the first time.

After Herod arrested Peter, he put him in jail and handed him over to be guarded by sixteen soldiers. Herod planned to bring Peter before the people for trial after the Passover Feast.