The Early Church

Thinking about that, he came to the house of Miriam, the mother of Yochanan who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.

When Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer.

When she recognized Peter’s voice, she didn’t open the gate for joy, but ran in, and reported that Peter was standing in front of the gate.

They said to her, “You are crazy!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.”

But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him, and were amazed.

But he, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, “Tell these things to Jacob, and to the brothers.” Then he departed, and went to another place.

Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter.

When Herod had sought for him, and didn’t find him, he examined the guards, and commanded that they should be put to death. He went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.

Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus, the king’s personal aide, their friend, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food.

On an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them.

The people shouted, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!”

Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn’t give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.

But the word of God grew and multiplied.

Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them Yochanan who was called Mark.

Now in the assembly that was at Antioch there were some prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

As they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work to which I have called them.”

Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus.

When they were at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. They had also Yochanan as their attendant.

When they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-Yeshua,

who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul, and sought to hear the word of God.

But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn aside the proconsul from the faith.

But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him,

and said, “Full of all deceit and all cunning, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is on you, and you will be blind, not seeing the sun for a season!” Immediately a mist and darkness fell on him. He went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.