Jerusalem

Some time later there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool with five covered colonnades, which in Hebrew is called Bethesda.

Then some of the people of Jerusalem began to say, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill?

At that time the Feast of Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter,

Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, a little less than two miles away,

Now the Jewish Passover was near, and many people went up from the country to Jerusalem to purify themselves before the Passover.

The next day the great crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.

And while they were gathered together, He commanded them: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift the Father promised, which you have heard Me discuss.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near the city, a Sabbath day’s journey away.

This became known to all who lived in Jerusalem, so they called that field in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, lifted up his voice, and addressed the crowd: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen carefully to my words.

“What shall we do with these men?” they asked. “It is clear to everyone living in Jerusalem that a remarkable miracle has occurred through them, and we cannot deny it.

Crowds also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and all of them were healed.

“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us responsible for this man’s blood.”

So the word of God continued to spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly, and a great number of priests became obedient to the faith.

And Saul was there, giving approval to Stephen’s death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.

When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.

And after Peter and John had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many of the Samaritan villages.

Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go south to the desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”

So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official in charge of the entire treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship,

and requested letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

But Ananias answered, “Lord, many people have told me about this man and all the harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.

All who heard him were astounded and asked, “Isn’t this the man who wreaked havoc in Jerusalem on those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”