Acts 11:24

For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.”

This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.

He will keep the feet of his holy ones, but the wicked will be put to silence in darkness; for no man will prevail by strength.

He who increases his wealth by excessive interest gathers it for one who has pity on the poor.

Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.

For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

Yahweh, I know that the way of man is not in himself. It is not in man who walks to direct his steps.

A man’s heart plans his course, but Yahweh directs his steps.

Moreover you shall provide out of all the people able men which fear God: men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

Yes, he loved cursing, and it came to him. He didn’t delight in blessing, and it was far from him.

Establish my footsteps in your word. Don’t let any iniquity have dominion over me.

Yahweh will keep your going out and your coming in, from this time forward, and forever more.

Blessed is everyone who fears Yahweh, who walks in his ways.

Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said, “Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until today.”

You shall therefore keep my statutes and my ordinances, which if a man does, he shall live in them. I am Yahweh.

The watchman said, “He came to them, and isn’t coming back. The driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously.”

Now therefore don’t give your daughters to their sons. Don’t take their daughters to your sons, nor seek their peace or their prosperity forever; that you may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.’

What man is he who fears Yahweh? He shall instruct him in the way that he shall choose.

He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay. He set my feet on a rock, and gave me a firm place to stand.

Righteousness goes before him, And prepares the way for his steps.

The children of your servants will continue. Their offspring will be established before you.”

He will not allow your foot to be moved. He who keeps you will not slumber.

Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes.

A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth. The work of a man’s hands shall be rewarded to him.

An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning, won’t be blessed in the end.

I also tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

All who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, “What then will this child be?” The hand of the Lord was with him.

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil.

He said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live.”

Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls.

praising God, and having favor with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.

None of the rest dared to join them, however the people honored them.

More believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.

Saul was consenting to his death. A great persecution arose against the assembly which was in Jerusalem in that day. They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.

Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them the Christ.

All who lived at Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

So the assemblies were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.

For I say through the grace that was given me, to every man who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

While he yet spoke, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came; and Adonijah said, “Come in; for you are a worthy man, and bring good news.”

On that day, King Ahasuerus gave the house of Haman, the Jews’ enemy, to Esther the queen. Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was to her.

he may prepare it, but the just will put it on, and the innocent will divide the silver.

Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous; their minds and hearts are searched by the righteous God.

He brought me out also into a large place. He delivered me, because he delighted in me.

The wicked borrow, and don’t pay back, but the righteous give generously.

All day long he deals graciously, and lends. His offspring is blessed.

The law of his God is in his heart. None of his steps shall slide.

His offspring will be mighty in the land. The generation of the upright will be blessed.

Oh that my ways were steadfast to obey your statutes!

You are good, and do good. Teach me your statutes.

Yes, may you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel.

So you will find favor, and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

For whoever finds me, finds life, and will obtain favor from Yahweh.

You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Some therefore of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he doesn’t keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” There was division among them.

For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.”

Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, a complaint arose from the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily service.

But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.

On the next day, we who were Paul’s companions departed, and came to Caesarea. We entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.

One Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews who lived in Damascus,

for God’s Kingdom is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.

For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

but the goal of this command is love, out of a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith,

We know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and he who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.

Take wise men of understanding who are respected among your tribes, and I will make them heads over you.”

I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his children begging for bread.

But let him who glories glory in this, that he has understanding, and knows me, that I am Yahweh who exercises loving kindness, justice, and righteousness in the earth, for I delight in these things,” says Yahweh.

The Pharisees therefore answered them, “You aren’t also led astray, are you?

These words pleased the whole multitude. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch;

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.

Whom he predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified.

Isaiah cries concerning Israel, “If the number of the children of Israel are as the sand of the sea, it is the remnant who will be saved;

For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

The watchman said, “I think the running of the first one is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” The king said, “He is a good man, and comes with good news.”

Behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of Yahweh; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in all the king’s matters. Also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and may Yahweh be with the good.”

A man’s steps are established by Yahweh. He delights in his way.

It is well with the man who deals graciously and lends. He will maintain his cause in judgment.

A good man shall obtain favor from Yahweh, but he will condemn a man of wicked plans.

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored for the righteous.

The unfaithful will be repaid for his own ways; likewise a good man will be rewarded for his ways.

The good man out of his good treasure brings out good things, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings out evil things.

He said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

Behold, a man named Joseph, who was a member of the council, a good and righteous man

There was much murmuring among the multitudes concerning him. Some said, “He is a good man.” Others said, “Not so, but he leads the multitude astray.”

They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.

Therefore select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

Stephen, full of faith and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.

So the assemblies throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace, and were built up. They were multiplied, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

In this I also practice always having a conscience void of offense toward God and men.

For one will hardly die for a righteous man. Yet perhaps for a righteous person someone would even dare to die.

But I write the more boldly to you in part, as reminding you, because of the grace that was given to me by God,

Don’t be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.