The Abridged Acts of the Apostles

1:1-2. In my first book, I wrote about everything Jesus did and taught up until the day he went to heaven, including the instructions sent through the Holy Spirit.

1:3. After he died, he appeared alive to many of them, and gave convincing proofs over 40 days, speaking about the kingdom of God.

1:4-5. He told them to stay in Jerusalem, and that they will be baptized with the Holy Spirit soon.

1:6. They asked him, “Aren’t you supposed to come back and give the world to God's people?”

1:7-8. Jesus said, “No one knows when God will make that happen. For now, you’ll receive the power of the Holy Spirit, and be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, and to all the ends of the earth.”

1:9. When he was done speaking, they saw him get lifted up by a cloud out of sight.

1:10-11. They stood there, looking up to the sky, when angels appeared and told them to stop staring.

1:12-14. The 11 remaining disciples – Peter, John, James, Andrew, Phillip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James II, Simon II, and Judas II- were there, along with Jesus’ mother Mary, his brothers, and other followers.

1:15-22. Peter stood up among all these people – maybe 120 of them- and said, “The scripture had to be fulfilled- Judas had to betray Jesus. We know Judas exploded in the Field of Blood, and now he has to be replaced.”

1:23-26. They rolled dice and someone named Matthias became the 12th Apostle.

2:1-4. When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in the same place. There was a rush of wind from heaven, and it filled the house they were in. The Holy Spirit gave the ability to begin speaking in other languages with tongues of fire.

2:5-13. A huge crowd of people gathered because they had heard people speaking their native language. They were confused and astonished at hearing native Galileans speak languages from all over the world. Some thought it was a miracle- others thought they were drunk.

2:14-36. Peter said, “Hey! We’re not drunk! It’s only 9 in the morning! It’s prophesy! Listen to what I’m saying- Jesus handed himself in to be killed and was raised from the dead. We saw it happen. This is the result of a spreading of the Holy Spirit as promised. Jesus, who was crucified, was made the Chosen Ruler by God.”

2:37. Some of them said, “Well, what can we do?”

2:38. Peter said, “Realize your shortcomings, change your ways, and be baptized in the name of Jesus the Chosen. You will be forgiven and receive the Holy Spirit.

2:39-40. This promise is for you, your children, and everyone in the world who God calls. Save yourself from this corrupt generation.

2:41-42. About 3,000 people accepted the message, got baptized, and began teaching and following the ways of the apostles.

2:43-47. Many people were in awe at all the things the apostles were doing. Many sold their possessions and distributed them to those in need. They all hung out and shared food and ate what little they had gladly.

3:1-3. One day Peter and John went to temple at three in the afternoon. A person who couldn’t walk was carried and sat by the gate, as he was daily. When he saw Peter and John, he asked them for a donation.

3:4-6. Peter said, “Here,” the person looked up, “I have no money, but in the name of Jesus Christ, stand and walk!”

3:7-10. Peter held out his hand and helped him up. He jumped up and down and entered the temple with them. Everyone knew he was the beggar who couldn’t walk, and they were amazed.

3:11. The person hung out with Peter and John, and everyone gathered under Solomon’s Patio.

3:12-16. Peter gave a speech, “Fellow Israelites, why does this miracle surprise you, do you think we did it ourselves or something? It wasn’t us. God has backed up Jesus’ word, because now, it was faith in Jesus’ name that has allowed them to walk and given them health.

3:17-21. Yes, Jesus suffered because of the ignorance of the people of this world. We should all look ourselves deeply, so that God may forgive us. May Jesus may visit us individually until he comes back from heaven permanently to heal and restore the entire universe.

3:22-23. Moses told us God would send a prophet like them- and to listen to what they say.

3:24-25. All of the prophets have predicted these days. You are descendants of those prophets, and of the promise God made Abraham when God said he would all of Earth would be blessed through his descendants.

3:26. God sent a servant to help you and bless you, from seeing the errors of your ways.”

4:1-4. While Peter was speaking, some religious leaders came up, annoyed because they were teaching that Jesus could bring people back to life. So, they arrested them for the night, but it was too late- about 5,000 people heard and believed.

4:5-6. The next day, a lot of rulers, elders and scribes assembled, along with the high priests named Annas and Caiaphas.

4:7. They made John and Peter stand before them and asked, “Under what authority have you two been acting?

4:8-10. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said, “If you’ve really arrested us just to ask us who gave us permission to do a good deed and heal someone- you should know it was Jesus fuckin’ Christ, the one you killed and God brought back from the dead, who was able to heal that person with just a name.

4:11. Jesus was the brick you refused to put in your temple, and now, God has made him the centerpiece.

4:12. No other name around has the same power."

4:13-14. When the leaders realized Peter and John were uneducated, regular folks, they realized they were students of Jesus. When they saw the person they healed standing beside them, they were speechless.

4:15-17. They took a few minutes to discuss things among themselves. They said, “What can we do? It’s pretty obvious they did a miracle, we can’t deny that. But we can force them to stop saying that name anymore, so it won’t spread any further.”

4:18. They called them back in the room and let them know they were forbidden to teach at all in the name of Jesus.

4:19-20. Peter and John said, “Do you think God would rather us listen to God or you? We won’t shut up.”

4:21. They threated them again, but had to let them go because they had nothing to punish them with.

4:22. They were pretty amazed the two had managed to heal someone older than 40 years old.

4:23. When they were let free, they went told the others what had happened to them.

4:24-26. The all prayed together, “It’s just like you said through David- people got mad and gathered against your Chosen One.

4:27. That's what actually what happened when Herod and Pontius Pilate came together to kill Jesus.

4:28. They only did what God wanted.

4:29. God, help your servants speak your words.

4:30. And help them do miracles and heal people with just the name of Jesus.

4:33. Everyone kept talking about all the things Jesus could do, and how he came back from the dead.

4:31. After they were done praying, the Holy Spirit filled the room and shook the whole house.

4:32. All the believers came together and totally shared everything with everyone- no one had anything of their own.

4:34-35. No one in their group was poor. Whoever had land or a house sold it, and gave the money to the group, and everyone had what they needed.

4:36-37. This included Joseph, a priest from the city of Cyprus, who sold his farm and donated the money.

5:1-2. Another couple, named Ananaias and Sapphira, also sold their property, but they only donated part of the money.

5:3-4. Peter said he was ashamed of him, and that he wasn't lying to the apostles, but to God.

5:5. Ananias fell down and died on the spot. Everyone watching was terrified.

5:6. People came and buried him.

5:7. About 3 hours later, his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

5:8-10. Peter tested her, and she lied, too. So he scolded her and cursed her, and she died. She was buried too.

5:11. Everyone in the church heard about this, and they were scared.

5:12-13. Otherwise, the apostles performed many signs and miracles.
The believers used to meet in Solomon's Alley, but no one else joined them, even though the group was well respected.

5:14. More and more people started to believe and added to their number.

5:15. People started laying the sick in the streets, hoping Peter's shadow would pass over them.

5:16. People came from all around Jerusalem to be healed and exorcised.

5:17-18. The religious leaders started to get jealous, and started arresting the apostles, and bringing them to jail.

5:19-21. But during the night, and angel helped them escape from jail, and told them to go start preaching in the courtyard.

5:22. The whole council of elders showed up to see what was going on, but when they went to look in the jail, of course, the apostles weren't there.

5:23-27. The guard found them in the courtyard and brought them to the council to be questioned.

5:28. They said, "We gave you strict orders not teach about Jesus, yet that's all you've done, and are trying to make us look guilty!"

5:29-30. Peter said, "We obey God, not humans! It was God who brought Jesus back to life after you killed him!

5:31. God elevated Jesus to be the Savior, to pay the fines for the wrongdoings of everyone.

5:32. We promise, and so does the Holy Spirit."

5:33. This made them angry and want to kill the apostles.

5:34. But one of the leaders, named Gamaliel, stood up, and motioned for the apostles to be set outside for a little while.

5:35-39. He said, "Think about what you're doing. If someone leads a rebellion and they die, their followers are scattered because they no longer have a leader. If Jesus was rebelling, then they no longer have a leader, and their movement will fade quickly. But if it is truly backed by God, and God is their leader, then you will only be fighting against God."

5:40. They saw he had a good point. They brought the apostles back in, flogged them, and let them go, telling them again not to speak about Jesus anymore.

5:41. The apostles left feeling like they won.

5:42. Day after day, they continued to teach in the temple courtyard.

6:1. There were growing numners of discples, and they started arguing over who got how much food.

6:2-6. The 12 gathered everyone together, and had them choose 7 people to handle food distribution. One of them was named Stephen, and another Philip. The 12 blessed the 7 that were chosen by the people.

6:7. The word of God spread quickly, and more people came to the faith.

6:8. Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit, had a lot of power, and could do miracles.

6:9-11. Some people started arguing with him, and they lost badly, so they started spreading rumors that Stephen had spoken bad about Moses and God.

6:12-14. Stephen got arrested and brought before the religious leaders. They found someone to lie and say Stephen said Jesus was going to destroy the temple and change the rules of Moses.

6:15. Everyone looked to see what Stephen would say, and his face glowed like an angel.

7:1. The high priest said, "Well? Is this true?"

7:2-4. Stephen said, "Listen, friends!
Abraham was living in Mesopotamia when God told him to come to this land, where you're living at now.

7:5-7. God didn't let Abraham have it then, but told him that his descendents would be able to inherit it one day after being slaves in Egypt.

7:8. That's when God gave Abraham the Deal of Circumcisions, if we got cirucmcised, then God would bless us.
Abraham had Isaac,
Isaac had Jacob,
And Jacob had 12 children who became the 12 patriarchs.

7:9-10. 11 of those children were jealous of Joseph, the 12th, and kidnapped him and sold him to Egypt.
But God gave Joseph wisdom, and Joseph gained a lot of power and control in Egypt.

7:11-12. When famine hit the family, they had to go buy it from Joseph in Egypt.

7:13-15. On their second visit, Joseph revealed who he was, and he brought his whole family into Egypt, where they all would eventually die.

7:16. Their bodies were brought back and buried in Abraham's tomb.

7:17-18. Time passed, our population grew in Egypt, and another king came to power, who didn't know Joseph.

7:19. The Egyptians started killing our babies.

7:20-21. That's when Moses was born, and rescued by the Pharoah's daughter.

7:22-24. Moses got educated, and one day, went to visit his fellow Israelites, when he saw an Egyptian beating one of them. He killed the Egyptian.

7:25-28. Moses thought this would impress the Israelites, but they were just grumpy and sarcastic with him.

7:29. He fled to a neighboring country and had a family.

7:30-35. 40 years later is when God appeared to Moses in a burning bush, and told him to go save the Israelites.

7:36. He led them out of Egypt and did many miracles, including splitting the Red Sea, and wandering the desert for forty years.

7:37. Moses himself said, "God will send you another prophet like me from our own people."

7:38-42. Moses was getting the 10 commandments when our ancestors rebelled against God by creating a golden calf statue and thinking it was better than God.

7:43. That's when they were cast into the desert.

7:44. Our ancestors had a Portable Santuary they carried through the desert, exactly as God had told them to make it.

7:45-47. Moses' successor Joshua took the Portable Santuary when he captured all the land originally promised back to Abraham.
It remained there until Solomon built the temple.

7:48-50. However, God can't fit any in any one house. Heaven is the throne of God, and the whole earth is God's footstool.

7:51. You stubborn people with hardened hearts!

7:52. You are resisting the Holy Spirit! Just like with every prophet you've killed!

7:53. You recieved the law yourself, but still do not listen to it.

7:54. This really pissed off all the leaders.

7:55. But Stephen, with the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw Jesus standing next to God.

7:56. Stephen said, "I see heaven open, and the Perfected Human standing next to God."

7:57-58. The guards rushed forward, and dragged him out of the city, and began to beat him to death.
The ones who lied about Stephen gave their coats to someone named Paul.

7:59-60. While they were killing him, Stephen said, "God, do not hold it against them. Jesus, take me with you."
He died.

8:1. Paul nodded, looking at Stephen's dead body.

8:2-4. On that day, a big push to arrest all Christians began. Paul began breaking into houses and arresting people. The Christians had to scatter.

8:5. Philip, who was picked as one of the 7 food leaders, went to a city called Samaria and started to teach.

8:6-8. Philip healed lots of people and fought lots of demons.

8:9-11. There was a magician named Simon there, who claimed to have lots of powers, and had a few followers.

8:12-13. But when he saw Philip teaching, even he got himself baptized. Simon was amazed at everything he saw.

8:14. Peter and John heard about the success in Samaria, and went to go help out.

8:15-17. They got there and started giving people the Holy Spirit.

8:18-19. Simon saw this, and offered to pay Peter and John to teach him how to do it.

8:20-23. Peter said, "Fuck you and your money, go die."

8:24. Simon was sad and thought about his actions.

8:25. They preached and healed many more on their way back to Jerusalem.

8:26. Next, an angel told Philip to go down to Ethiopia.

8:27-28. On the way, he saw somebody from Ethiopia, reading from Scripture.

8:29. The Holy Spirit told Philip to go talk to the person.

8:30. Philip went up and asked, "Do you understand what you're reading?"

8:31. "Not really," the person said, "Come teach me."

8:32-35. Philip started to teach about Jesus.

8:36. They walked and talked. They ran into a river, and the person said, "Hey, why not baptize me?"

8:37. Philip said, "If your heart says to, I can."
The person said, "I believe Jesus is the Chosen Child of God."

8:38. The person gave orders to stop his cart. They got out, and Philip baptized him.

8:39-40. When the person came up out of the water, God teleported Philip away to another city.

9:1-2. Meanwhile, Paul was still hunting down and arresting Christians.

9:3. Paul was on the road, heading to a city called Damascus, when suddenly he saw a bright light.

9:4. Paul fell the ground, and a voice said, "Paul, why are you hunting me?"

9:5. "Who are you?" Paul asked.

9:6. "I am Jesus- the one you are hunting. Get up, go the city. You'll get instructions there."

9:7. Paul's traveling partners were speechless- they heard the voice but didn't see anything.

9:8. Paul got up, but was blind, so his partners had to lead him into Damascus.

9:9. He couldn't see, and didn't eat or drink anything for three days.

9:10-12. There was a disciple named Ananias in Damascus. Jesus appeared to him and told him to go to see Paul, and told him which house he was in.

9:13-14. Ananias said, "Lord, Paul has done some evil things, and wants to arrest us all."

9:15-16. Jesus said, "I have a mission for him, to carry my name to the whole world. He will suffer for it."

9:17. Ananias followed the directions, found Paul, and said, "Jesus sent me to you, so that you'll be able to see, and you'll be filled with the Holy Spirit."

9:18-19. Scales fell from Paul's eyes, and he was able to see. He got baptized, and had a meal.

9:20-21. Paul stayed in Damascus for a few days, and started to teach about Jesus. Everyone who had known about him before was completely shocked.

9:22. Paul argued more and more and got better and better and proving Jesus is the Chosen One.

9:23-25. After a while, Paul got himself put on the kill list, and had to escape by hiding in a basked and being lowered through a hole in the city wall.

9:26. Paul went to Jerusalem, and tried to join the group of disciples, but they didn't trust him.

9:27. But someone named Barnabas trusted and listend to Paul, and stood up for him in front of the rest.

9:28. So Paul stayed in Jerusalem and agrued boldly in the name of God.

9:29. He debated with the Jewish Greek people, and soon they wanted to kill him.

9:30. So he went back home to Tarsus.

9:31. The church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had a period of peace and grew beatifully, respecting God.

9:32-35. Peter healed someone name Aeneas in a city name Lydda, and convinced a bunch of people to start following Jesus.

9:36-42. In a city called Joppa, someone named Tabitha died, and Peter brought them back to life. This, too, convinced many people to follow Jesus.

9:43. Peter stayed in Joppa, staying with someone named Simon the tanner.

10:1-6. There was a soldier named Cornelius, who had a vision where God sent an angel, and told him to go get Peter and bring him to his house.

10:7-8. He sent his servants to get Peter.

10:9-10. Around noon the next day, Peter was on the roof praying, hungry, waiting for lunch.

10:11-13. He had a vision where he saw all sorts of animals on a plate, all of them forbidden by Jewish law. A voice told him to eat.

10:14. Peter said, "No way! I've never eat anything forbidden!"

10:15. The voice said, "Do not call anything God has cleaned forbidden."

10:16. This happend three times, and the vision ended.

10:17. Peter was thinking about what the vision meant, when Cornelius' servants arrived at the door.

10:18-21. They called out for Peter. The Holy Spirit said it was safe, so Peter went down to them.

10:22-23. They explained the situation, and Peter invited them to stay the night.

10:24. They left the next day.
Cornelius had planned an event, and brought all his family and friends together.

10:25. Peter entered the house, and Cornelius bowed.

10:26. Peter said, "Get up! I'm just a human."

10:27. Peter went inside and started talking to everyone.

10:28. Peter said, "God has previously forbidden the Jewish people to spend time with people who aren't Jewish.
But God has shown me that the rules can change, and that I shouldn't call anyone unpure or forbidden.

10:29. That's why I came without hesitation. But still, why did you ask me to come?"

10:30-33. Cornelius explained the situation.

10:34-35. Peter said, "I now truly see that God doesnt pick favorites, but accepts everyone who respects God and does what is right.

10:36-38. You already know about Jesus. You know how he started in city of Galilee and went through nation of Judea healing and doing good, because God was there with him.

10:39-40. We saw everything- how he was crucified, and how God brought him back from the dead.

10:41. Not everyone saw him, just some God chose.

10:42. He commanded us to teach these things, and that he is the one God chose to judge us all.

10:43. All the prophets agree that everyone who believes Jesus will be forgiven of their wrongdoings.

10:44. While Peter was speaking, the Holy Spirit came on everyone who heard.

10:45-46. The Jewish believers were surprised the Holy Spirit could go to the non Jewish.

10:47. Peter said, "If they can recieve the Holy Spirit, then they should definetly be able to be baptized in water."

10:48. He stayed for a few days and baptized everyone.

11:1-3. Back in Jerusalem, some Jewish-leaning Jesus believers had heard what Peter had done- going into non-Jewish houses and baptizing them!

11:4-16. Peter explained everything exactly as it happened.

11:17. Peter finished with, "If God gave them the same gifts as us, who was I to argue with God?"

11:18. The people who were originally mad were now happy that God was accepting people who not Jewish.

12:1. It was about this time King Herod arrested a few Christians.

12:2. He had James Zebedee the Apostle killed with a sword.

12:3. During the Feast of Unleavened bread, he also arrested Peter.

12:4. He planned to bring out Peter for public trial after the Passover.

12:5. Everyone was praying for him.

12:6. The night before the trial, Peter was sleeping while chained up and surrounded by guards.

12:7-8. An angel appeared and said, "Quick! Get up! Put on your clothes and follow me!" The chains fell off his wrist, and he put on his clothes.

12:9. He followed the angel out of the prison.

12:10. They would come up to guards and they wouldn't notice, and they would come up to gates and they would open by themselves. When they got to the street, the angel left.

12:11. Peter knew God had saved him.

12:12. He immediately went to the house of the mother of his friend Mark.

12:13. Peter knocked on the door and called out for help.

12:14. A servant girl recongized his voice and said, "Peter is at the door!"

12:15. The family said, "That's impossible. Maybe his ghost. He's dead."

12:16. Peter kept knocking, and they were surprised to see him.

12:17. Peter told them everything that happened, and told them to pass it onto James and the others.

12:18-19. In the morning, the guard went crazy looking for Peter. Herod had the guards who were watching him executed.

12:20-22. One day, Herod was giving a speech. The crowd said, "That is the voice of God!" Herod nodded his head.

12:23. Immediately, God killed Herod. He was eaten by worms and died.

12:24. The Word of God continued to spread.

11:19. When Stephen died, many of the followers at the time spread far, and they taught only to Jewish people.
One of the cities they went to was called Antioch.

11:20. Some other followers from other cities ended up at Antioch to, and started teaching the people there who were not Jewish.

11:21. Many people at Antioch started to follow God.

11:22. This news reached Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.

11:23-26. Barnabas stopped by Tarsus to grab Paul, and they went to Antioch.
They stayed and taught for a whole year.
The first time the word "Christian" was ever used was here at Antioch.

11:27-30. At that time, a prophet came from Jerusalem asking for donations because of a famine. Paul and Barnabas collected them, and took them Jerursalem themselves.

12:25. After Barnabas and Paul dropped off the money in Jerusalem, they joined up with Peter's friend Mark, and returned to Antioch.

13:1. At Anitoch there were many prophets and teachers.

13:2. One day, the Holy Spirit said, "I have a job for Paul and Barnabas."

13:3-5. All the other discples blessed them, and they left to Cyprus with Mark.

13:6-8. They got to the island, and met with a governer named Sergius.
Sergius wanted to hear more about Jesus, but there was a magician named Elymas who tried to talk him out of it.

13:9-12. Paul got there and cursed Elymas and he went blind. Everyone was amazed, and Sergius started believing.

13:13-14. They went back to Anitoch, and Mark went back to Jerusalem.

13:15. They entered the temple and sat down. The religious leaders said, "Please, if you have anythign to share, enlighten us."

13:16. Paul stood up and said, "Everyone who worships God- listen!

13:17-20. God took our ancestors into Egypt, brought them out, and gave them a new nation.

13:21-22. After, God gave judges to rule us until Samuel the Prophet. Then, when we asked for a king, we were given Saul, then David.

13:23. And eventually, from David, came Jesus.

13:24-25. John the Baptist told us Jesus was coming.

13:26. This offer to save and help you has been sent to the whole world.

13:27-29. The religious leaders did not recognize Jesus, so they crucified him, then buried him in a tomb.

13:30-31. But God brought him back to life- many people saw.

13:32-37. This proves Jesus is Chosen- even David rotted in his grave.

13:38. So, I want you to know Jesus has forgiven all your wrongdoings.

13:39. If you believe in Jesus, you will be fixed in ways the Law of Moses couldn't fix you.

13:40-41. Remember, God works in mysterious ways."

13:42. When they were leaving, they were invited back next Sabbath to speak again.

13:43. Many people who had never considered it started following Paul and Barnabas, and gave them confidence to continue.

13:44. The next Sabbath, almost the whole city gathere to watch them.

13:45. When the religious leaders saw the crowds, they were jealous and started saying ignorant things about Paul was saying.

13:46. Paul and Barnabas said, "Hey, we tried talking to you first- now we're talking to the people who aren't religious.

13:47. God told us that we are the light that will bring God to all the edges of the earth."

13:48. This made the people happy, and all who meant to, started to believe.

13:49. Rumors spread like crazy.

13:50-51. But the religious leaders kicked them out of the city, so they went to a city called Iconium.

13:52. Everyone was happy and filled with the Holy Spirit.

14:1. At Iconium, Paul and Barnabas started teaching as usual.

14:2-5. But some of the religious leaders didn't like it, and eventually convinced others to get together and kill them.

14:6-7. Paul and Barnabas hear, and started traveling around to other cities and teaching.

14:8-10. They got to a city called Lystra, where Paul healed someone.

14:11-13. They saw this, and thought Barnabas was Zeus because he was older, and Paul was Hermes because he was good at speaking. They started doing sacrifices in their temples.

14:14-17. Paul and Barnabas tore off their clothes and ran into the crowd, telling them they were only humans bringing the message of the one God, who is now extending an invitation to the whole world.

14:18. Even then, the crowds still didn't really understand, and kept sacrificing.

14:19. Then some guards showed up from Antioch, and stoned Paul. They drogged him outisde of the city, assuming he was ead.

14:20. After his group came to check on him, he stood up and went back into the city, and continued teaching.

14:21-22. They returned to all the other cities, constantly reinforcing and building their numbers, and giving people strength and motivation.

14:23-25. They chose elders as they traveled, and put them in charge of the church.

14:26. Eventually, they got back to Anitoch, finished with the work God sent them out to do.

14:27-28. They told the stories of their adventures, everyone celebrated, and they stayed there a long time.

15:1. Some people came to Antioch teaching that you had to circumcised in order to be Christian.

15:2. Paul and Barnabas argued fiercely with these teachings, so they all went to Jerusalem to settle it once and for all.

15:3. They taught along the way.

15:4. They got to Jerusalem, and everyone gathered.

15:5. Some of the group said, "Everyone has to get circumcised and follow the Law of Moses."

15:6. This was the topic of what they were meeting to discuss.

15:7-10. After a while of discussion, Peter said, "Friends, we already all saw God send the Holy Spirit to people who were uncircumcised, so why would we try to enforce additional rules that kind of suck to follow?

15:11. We are saved becuase of Jesus, just the same as they are."

15:12. Everyone was quiet, and listend to how successful Paul and Barnabas had been.

15:13-14. Then James spoke up and said, "We all know the wonderful things Peter and Paul have shown us.

15:15-18. We also know that God planned on expanding to include the non-Jewish, since much earlier prophets.

15:19-21. The only rules we should worry about are:
1. No idols
2. No sexual assault or adultery
3. Don't drink blood
These are rules still taught everywhere."

15:22-30. Everyone agreed, and they wrote and signed a letter.
Paul and Barnabas went to deliever the news to Antioch, and brought the help of two people named Judas and Silas.

15:31. Everyone who read it was happy.

15:32-33. Judas and Silas were themselves prophets, and inspired everyone they saw.
Judas went back to Jerusalem.

15:34. Silas stayed there.

15:35-36. Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch a while, when they decided to go back and visit everyone they'd seen.

15:37-41. Barnabas wanted to take Mark, but Paul was still mad that Mark had left them in a middle of a trip. The argument was so bad, they split up, going different ways.
Barnabas took Mark, and Paul started traveling with Silas.

16:1-5. Paul and Silas met up with Timothy, who starts joining them on their travels, helping them grow the church.

16:6-10. They traveled around for a while, eventually getting a vision to go to Macedonia.

16:11-12. They started off, and eventually got a city called Philippi, which was on the edge of Macedonia.

16:13-15. They ran into a nice woman named Lydia right away, who let them stay with her.

16:16-18. One day, a fortune-teller who was a slave possessed by a demon was following around Paul, annoying him.
Paul exorcised the demon.

16:19-21. When the owners of the fortune-teller found out they could no longer make money, they grabbed Paul and Silas, and took them to the guard.
They said, "Who are they to tell us what we can and cannot do?"

16:22-24. The crowd started beating them, and they were thrown in jail. They were double chained up.

16:25. Paul and Silas were praying and singing at about midnight, and other prisoners were listening.

16:26. Suddenly there was a huge earthquake, and the prison doors opened, and everyones chains came off.

16:27. The jailer almost killed himself because he knew if anyone escaped, he would be killed anyways.

16:28. But Paul said, "Don't worry- we're not escaping."

16:29-30. The jailer ran to them and said, "What do I need to do to be saved?"

16:31. Paul said, "Believe in Jesus, and your whole family will be saved."

16:32-33. They sat and talked with the guards for a while, and they all got baptized.

16:34. The jailer brought them to their own home, and fed them.

16:35-36. In the morning, the higher ups ordered Paul and Silas released, and the jailer passed along the message.

16:37. But Paul said, "Not so easy! We're Roman citizens! You can't just beat us and lock us up and expect us to forget about it. They need to come apologize themselves."

16:38-39. The higher ups were worried when they heard this, and went to go apologize and escort them out of the prison, but asked them to leave the city.

16:40. They met with Lydia before leaving the city.

17:1-4. Paul and Sillas got to a town called Thesselonica, where they met with Jewish leaders in their synagogue, and discussed the scriptures and Jesus with them over 3 weeks. A lot them believed that Jesus was the Messiah.

17:5-7. The religous leaders got jealous, and sent a mob to get Paul and Silas. They only found Jason, the man who owned the house they were staying at, and the mob ragged him into the street.

17:8-9. They made Jason and a few others pay a fine.

17:10-12. That night, Paul, Silas, and Timothy left for a city named Berea. The people there were much more open to the message, and many converted.

17:13. But the religious leaders back in Thessalonica heard, and came and started causing trouble.

17:14-15. Paul left for the city called Athens, but Silas and Timothy stayed, planning to leave soon.

17:16. When Paul got to Athens, he was disgusted to see all of the idols- statues of other gods.

17:17. He still argued at the Jewish synagogue and the marketplace like usual.

17:18. Soon philosophers started arguing with him.

17:19-21. They took him to meet a council of people called the Areopagus. The council, curious about these new ideas, asked him to explain everything he was talking about.

17:22. Paul stood up and said, "I see that you and your people are very religious.

17:23. As I walking into the city, I saw an altar that said, "To an unknown god". Well- let me tell you what I know about God.

17:24. God created everything- the heaven and the earth. God does not live in houses built by human hands.

17:25. God doesn't need human hands at all- God is the one that gives us breath and life and everything else.

17:26. God created the first humans - and from them, all humans spread across the earth, exactly how God wanted.

17:27. God wants us to seek and find- even though God is never far.

17:28. In God, we live and move. Your own poets say, "We are God's children."

17:29. Since we are God's children, we shouldn't think that God is in gold or silver or stone or any technical skill.

17:30. In the past, God didn't really mind, but now, God is making the truth clear.

17:31. God has set a time to judge the world, and will use the Chosen human, Jesus. God proved us Jesus is Chosen because he was brought back to life.

17:32. When they heard, some laughed, but others were curious to hear more.

17:33. Then Paul left.

17:34. A few there became followers. One of them was named Dionysus the Areopagite, and another was named Damaris.

18:1-3. Paul left and went to a city named Corinth. He met and stayed with his married friends named Aquila and Priscilla. They were tentmakers like Paul was. They had moved to Corinth after all Jewish people were forced to leave Rome.

18:4. Every Sabbath, Paul taught in the synagogue.

18:5. Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia. Paul started teaching exclusively to the Jewish people, telling them that Jesus was the Chosen Child of God.

18:6. But the Jewish people started fights with Paul, so he decided to focus on the non Jewish people.

18:7-8. Paul stayed with someone named Titius Justus. He convinced many people to believe.

18:9-10. One night God gave a Paul a vision to keep on what he was doing, and that he would be safe.

18:11. Paul stayed for a year and a half.

18:12-16. One time some religious leaders tried to take Paul to jail, but the Greek leader Gallio wouldn't press charges because there was no crime against Greek law.

18:17. They went and got the local priest Sosthenes and beat him up in the court room. Gallio didn't even care.

18:18. Paul stayed in Corinth for a while, then left on a journey. He went with Priscilla and Aquila. He cut off all his hair on the way because of a promise to God.

18:19-21. He left Priscilla and Aquila at a city called Ephesus. The city said they wanted him to stay a while, but he said he had to keep moving.

18:22-23. He visited Antioch, and kept traveling towards the nation of Galatia.

18:24. Meanwhile, there was an educated Jewish man named Apollos who visited Ephesus.

18:25. He taught about Jesus, even though he only knew about the water baptism, not the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

18:26. He taught in the temple, and when Priscilla and Anquila heard, they invited him over.

18:27-28. Apollos went to Achaia, and many were happy to see him because he was great at public debate, proving Jesus was Chosen.

19:1. Apollos moved on to Corinth, an Paul ended up back at Ephesus, where Apollos had been.

19:2-3. Paul asked if they had recieved the Holy Spirit. They said they hadn't even heard of such a thing, and had only had a water baptism.

19:4. Paul said, "John's baptism was about changing your ways and beliving in the one that came after him, Jesus."

19:5-7. Paul placed his hands on all 12 of them and gave them the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

19:8. Paul stayed and taught for three months.

19:9-10. Some started getting too aggressive, so he went Tyrannus for two years.

19:11-12. God did a lot of miracles through Paul, so much so that even his clothes and napkins could heal and exorcise people later.

19:13-14. There was a family of seven magicians, who tried to exorcise by chanting, "In the name of Jesus who Paul preaches, get out of here!"
They didn't know what the words meant, they were just repeating the same words they heard.

19:15. The demon said, "I've heard of Jesus, and I've heard of Paul, but who are you?"

19:16. The demon beat the fuck out of all the priests.

19:17. Everyone heard and more respect for the real method and Jesus.

19:18-20. Many other magicians and sorcerers came forwards and burned their books and scrolls. Word spread far and wide.

19:21-22. Paul planned out his next trips.

19:23. Meanwhile, there was a big argument.

19:24-25. A statue-maker named Demetrius made good money making shrines for Artemis.

19:26-27. He was mad that Paul was getting people to turn against idols, so he gathered up his other craftspeople and started to rant.

19:28. They started chanting Artemis' name.

19:29. They started a riot and captured Paul's traveling companions.

19:30. Paul wanted to face them, but the other disciples wouldn't let them.

19:31. Even the guard told him it was wiser to stay away and let things cool down.

19:32. No one even really knew why they were there rioting, they were just following others.

19:33-34. They didn't even listen to the Jewish authorities, and just kept shouting Artemis' name.

19:35-40. Finally one of the city leaders calmed then down, saying, "We know Artemis is awesome, you don't need to scream it. Paul didn't do anything Artemis. If Demetrius has any issues, there are courts to settle it. Otherwise, shut up and calm down."

19:41. The rioters left.

20:1-6. Paul hit the road with Timothy and a few others.

20:7-12. One time along the way, someone fell out a window and Paul brought them back to life.

20:13-16. They traveled for a bit more.

20:17. At one spot, Paul asked the leaders of the church in Ephesus to come meet him.

20:18-21. He said, "You know about all the things I've done, and how loyal I've been to God in spreading the teachings to everyone, regardless of background.

20:22-24. But, it's time for me to go back to Jerusalem, even though the Holy Spirit is telling me that only prison is awaiting.

20:25. None of you will ever see me again.

20:26-27. Make sure everyone knows I'm innocent.

20:28. Keep watch over your church.

20:29-31. People will try to infiltrate it and teach their own ideas.

20:32-35. Keep working hard to earn your food, just like I have.

20:36-38. They knelt and prayed and hugged and kissed. They all knew they would miss him very much.

21:1-16. Paul and his travelers made their way to Jerusalem, and people all along the way warned and begged Paul not to go.

21:17. When they finally got to Jerusalem, they were welcomed warmly.

21:18-19. Paul greeted James, the brother of Jesus, and all the elders, and told them all about all the non-Jewish people he was helping.

21:20-21. They themselves were happy, but they warned Paul that the Jewish leaders had heard he was teaching it was okay not to follow Moses or cirucmcision.

21:22-23. The Christian elders were worried the leaders were going to come for Paul.

21:24. They arranged a Jewish ritual for Paul to do to prove he himself was a follower of Moses.

21:25. They recapped the only rules for non-Jewish people being: no idols, no sexual assualt, and no eating animals who were strangled.

21:26. Paul did the ritual they set up.

21:27-30. It didn't help at all thought. As soon as it was over, the religious leaders sent everyone into a riot. They captured Paul, and dragged him into the street and started beating him.

21:31-32. The commander of the whole Roman army happened ot be in the area, and heard the city of Jerusalem was in riot. He went to go look, and they stopped beating Paul.

21:33-34. The commander couldn't get a story in all the chaos, so he temporarily arrested Paul and had him taken to the police station.

21:35-36. The crowd was so violent they had to carry Paul.

21:37-38. As they were taking him into custody, the commander thought Paul looked like an infamosu Egyptian rebel they were on the lookout for.

21:39. Paul said, "No, I'm just from Tarsus. Can I do a speech real quick?"

21:40. The commander let him.
Paul turned and started to talk.

22:1-3. He said, "Listen to my story. I am Jewish- born in Tarsus. I was trained under the Law and love God just as as much as any of you.

22:4-5. Back in the day, I hunted, arrested, and killed people like me. I even have the letters to prove it.

22:6-11. One day, on the road to Damascus, Jesus came to me, and blew my mind, and made me blind.

22:12-16. Someone named Ananias came and healed me, and told me God had chosen me to tell everyone what I had seen.

22:17-21. When I went back to Jerusalem, I had a vision of Jesus, and he told me to leave because this place wasn't ready, to go far away to people who weren't already Jewish."

22:22. The crowd heard enough at this point and started yelling and screaming for his death.

22:23-24. The commander ordered Paul to be taken in, beaten, and questioned.

22:25. As they went to beat him, Paul said, "Is it legal to beat a Roman citizen who hasn't been found guilty?"

22:26-28. The guard freaked out and got the commander.

22:29. The commander was scared because he arrested an innocent civilian.

22:30. The next day, the commander assembled all the elder priests to discuss and figure out what was going on.

23:1. Paul said to the council, "I had served God honestly."

23:2. The high priest ordered the guard to hit him.

23:3. Paul said, "God will hit you, too! You can't cover up the evil in your heart! How can you bring me to trial for breaking the law when you're willing to do it this openly?"

23:4. The guard said, "Are you really going to talk to the high priest like that?"

23:5. Paul said, "Hey- sorry- didn't know that was the high priest. God said not to talk bad about rulers."

23:6-8. Paul knew the group was divided into two- some who believed in the literal afterlife and angels, and others didnt't.
Paul said, "I'm only on trial because I believe that people will come back to life and live forever."

23:9. The group started arguing among themselves, and some people started to defend Paul.

23:10. It became so violent the commander had to remove Paul and back to the prison.

23:11. Paul had another vision of Jesus that night, giving him courage and confidence.

23:12-13. The next morning, 40 people joined a group dedicated to killing Paul. They swore to an oath not to eat or drink until Paul was dead.

23:14-15. They asked the elders to ask the commander to bring him back, pretending to want to talk more, and they'll ambush and kill him.

23:16. Pau'ls nephew overheard, and went to prison to tell Paul.

23:17-21. Paul called a guard, and told the gaurd to take his nephew to the commander and fill him in. They did.

23:22. The commander sent Paul's nephew away, and warned him not to tell anyone it was him who reported it.

23:23-24. The commander called in two officials, and ordered them to gather a small army, and sent Paul off on a horse to Governer Felix for safety.

23:25-30. The commander wrote a letter explaining the situation.

23:31-33. They took Paul to Caesarea, and handed him over to Governor. Felix

23:34-35. The governor read the letter and said they'll wait to hear Paul's story until the accusers show up.

24:1-4. 5 days later, Ananias the high priest and the other elders got there. They went to the governor, and Paul was called in the room, and they began their case.

24:5-6. They said, "This man, Paul, is causing trouble and inciting riots all over the world. He is the leader of the Nazarene sect. He has tried to destroy our temple. That's why we arrested him.

24:7. We wanted to give him a trial according to our own laws, but your people wouldn't allow it.

24:8. Question him- you'll see for yourself."

24:9. Everyone nodded.

24:10-13. The governor motioned for Paul to speak, and he said, "It's easy to prove I was in Jerusalem twelve days ago. But they have absolutely no proof I was arguing or causing riots.

24:14-16. I do admit that I worship accounding to the ways of Jesus, which they consider a sect. However, I believe everything written in the scriptures, and many other things, just the same they do. I have a clear conscience.

24:17. After having been away from Jerusalem for many years, I did go back to gifts to the poor.

24:18. They found me after I had finished a religious ritual- there was no crowd or riot.

24:19-21. Ask those people yourself. The people here only saw and heard me say I believe people will come back from the dead."

24:22. Governor Felix knew a little bit about Christianity, and wanted to wait to see what the commander had to say.

24:23. They took Paul to prison, but let his friends come visit and bring him things.

24:24-25. A few days later, Governor Felix went to listen to Paul speak about Jesus, but got mad when Paul started talking about goodness, self control, and judgment, and left.

24:26. He was hoping Paul would offer a bribe, so he kept in contact with Paul.

24:27. After two years, Procius Festus took over Felix's job, but left Paul in prison as a favor to the religious leaders.

25:1-3. Festus was in Jerusalem, and some of the leaders asked him to transfer Paul there, because they had another ambush set up to kill him.

25:4-5. Festus said no, but he was going to Caesarea next, and they could come with him and try to bring charges there again.

25:6. They headed to Caesara, and Paul was brought before them all.

25:7-8. The religious leaders threw accuasations, but Paul said there was proof he did anything wrong to the Jewish people, the Greek people, or Caesar.

25:9. Festus said, "Do you want to take this case to the elders in Jerusalem?"

25:10-11. Paul said, "I have not done any wrong. If I did, that's fair, kill me. So no, in fact, I want this case to go to Caesar."

25:12. Festus said, "Alright fine, you want to see Casear? You will."

25:13-21. Festus told his friend King Agrippa about the situation. He said, "The religious leaders did not make the charges I was expecting to hear, instead they were arguing over whether or not someone named Jesus was still alive."

25:22. Festus told his friend King Agrippa about the situation.

25:23-27. The next day, Festus took Agrippa to Paul, and said, "Go talk to him, and figure out what the hell we're going to tell Caeasr."

26:1-23. Paul explained his whole backstory to Agrippa- how he started off hunting Christians, then had a vision, and traveled around teaching the news of Jesus, and how one day, God was going to bring everyone back to life- Jesus was just the first.

26:24. Festus interrupted and said, "Hey- you're crazy, you know that? Reading too many books."

26:25-27. Paul said, "I'm not crazy. The king here believes in prophets, don't you?"

26:28. Agrippa said, "Do you think you're going to convert me in such a short time?"

26:29. Paul said, "However long it takes, doesn't matter. I just hope you'll get to experience the same things I do- well, besides the chains."

26:30-31. They left the room and talked among themselves, saying "He's not really doing anything."

26:32. "Yeah," said Agrippa, "He probably would have been out of here if he didn't ask to elevate it to Caesar."

27:1-8. Paul was taken and started being transported to Rome.

27:9-11. They had taken a long time to sail, and Paul tried to warn them it was getting too late in the year to keep sailing.

27:12. The sailors didn't trust Paul, didn't like their current location, and had wanted to get to their destination, so they left.

27:13-20. But after they left, a storm slowly built up, until they started getting blown all over the place, and were lost at sea in a dark storm for many days.

27:21-26. After they were starting to starve, Paul had a vision- that they were all going to be okay, but the ship itself would not make it, and they were going to crash on an island. He told the crew.

27:27-29. On the 14th night, the storm got really bad and brought them really close to an island. They dropped anchors and waited until morning.

27:30-32. Some of the sailors tried to escape on a lifeboat, but Paul told them it wasn't a good idea, and they actually listened.

27:33-37. Paul performed a miracle- he took a piece of bread and broke off a piece for each sailor, feeding all 276 people on board.

27:38. After they ate, they threw some extra grain into the sea to help lighten their boat.

27:39. When the sun rose, they didn't know the land, but they saw a sandy beach which they could escape to.

27:40-41. They cut the anchors, and sailed towards the shore, but it hit a rock and couldn't move. The ship started getting destroyed.

27:42. The soldiers on board started talking about killing all the prisoners to prevent any escapes.

27:43. But one of them wanted to save Paul's life, so they talked the rest out of it. They ordered them all to swim to land.

27:44. Everyone got there safely.

28:1. They got on shore and discovered the island was called Malta.

28:2. The islanders were very kind, and built us a fire.

28:3-4. While gather firewood, Paul got bitten by a poisionous snake, and for a moment everyone thought was God enacting justice on a murderer.

28:5-6. Paul shook the snake off his hand and never suffered any effects- usually people would swell up and die. So the people of the island changed their minds and thought he was a god.

28:7. The head official of the island offered them a house to stay in, and they stayed for three days.

28:8-9. Paul healed the official's father from a fever, and started healnig many other sick people.

28:10-11. The islanders helped a ton- and after three months, they had everything they needed to set out again.

28:12-15. They traveled again for a while, stopping at a few places. Eventually they got to Rome, and were welcomed by some Christians.

28:16. Paul was allowed to live by himself in Rome, with only a soldier to guard him.

28:17-20. After three days, Paul called for some of the Jewish leaders in Rome. He explained his case to them.

28:21-22. They said, "We haven't heard anything good or bad about you, but have heard a lot about this new sect. What are your views?"

28:23. They met with Paul, and he explained for days at a time, explaining Jesus was the Chosen One.

28:24. Some believed, but others didn't.

28:25-27. Paul said, "It says in Isaiah,
'You will hear and see but not understand'
and that's exactly what's happening!

28:28.  God is surely with everyone- not just the Jewish people!"

28:29. Everyone left, still arguing with each other.

28:30. Paul stayed in that house for two years and welcomed all who came to see him.

28:31. He taught about Jesus and God loudly and proudly.