Acts 15:3

But you go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Oh how great is your goodness, which you have laid up for those who fear you, which you have worked for those who take refuge in you, before the sons of men!

I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.

for a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

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

for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

for this, my son, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’ Then they began to celebrate.

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Now when I came to Troas for the Good News of Christ, and when a door was opened to me in the Lord,

For godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, which brings no regret. But the sorrow of the world produces death.

praying together for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds,

When they had arrived, and had gathered the assembly together, they reported all the things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith to the nations.

After they had spent some time there, they were sent back with greetings from the brothers to the apostles.

Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by race, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus. He was mighty in the Scriptures.

When he had spoken these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.

When he had greeted them, he reported one by one the things which God had worked among the Gentiles through his ministry.

For I will not dare to speak of any things except those which Christ worked through me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed,

When therefore I have accomplished this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will go on by way of you to Spain.

But we are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth,

Let no man despise your youth; but be an example to those who believe, in word, in your way of life, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity.

“I know your works (behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut), that you have a little power, and kept my word, and didn’t deny my name.

It will happen in that day that the nations will seek the root of Jesse, who stands as a banner of the peoples; and his resting place will be glorious.

“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”

From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”

and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

I have other sheep, which are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock with one shepherd.

and not for the nation only, but that he might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.

Therefore you now have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.

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

God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins.

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.

which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

From there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled.

Therefore when Paul and Barnabas had no small discord and discussion with them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas, and some others of them, to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.

The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent,

sorrowing most of all because of the word which he had spoken, that they should see his face no more. Then they accompanied him to the ship.

When those days were over, we departed and went on our journey. They all, with wives and children, brought us on our way until we were out of the city. Kneeling down on the beach, we prayed.

“Be it known therefore to you, that the salvation of God is sent to the nations, and they will listen.”

What then? That which Israel seeks for, that he didn’t obtain, but the chosen ones obtained it, and the rest were hardened.

whenever I travel to Spain, I will come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while.

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, you being gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,

But with you it may be that I will stay, or even winter, that you may send me on my journey wherever I go.

Therefore let no one despise him. But set him forward on his journey in peace, that he may come to me; for I expect him with the brothers.

even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without defect before him in love,

For this cause, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

to the end that you should walk worthily of God, who calls you into his own Kingdom and glory.

in gentleness correcting those who oppose him: perhaps God may give them repentance leading to a full knowledge of the truth,

Say these things and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one despise you.

Send Zenas, the lawyer, and Apollos on their journey speedily, that nothing may be lacking for them.

Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Many more believed because of his word.

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.”

Joses, who by the apostles was also called Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, Son of Encouragement), a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race,

But when they believed Philip preaching good news concerning God’s Kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the Good News to many villages of the Samaritans.

Peter sent them all out, and knelt down and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

They therefore who were scattered abroad by the oppression that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews only.

who, when he had come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad. He exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they should remain near to the Lord.

When they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly and the apostles and the elders, and they reported everything that God had done with them.

All the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the nations through them.

Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brothers.

testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus.

“Now, behold, I know that you all, among whom I went about preaching God’s Kingdom, will see my face no more.

When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly.

They, when they heard it, glorified God. They said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law.

For first of all, when you come together in the assembly, I hear that divisions exist among you, and I partly believe it.

and when they perceived the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, those who were reputed to be pillars, gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcision.

That which was a temptation to you in my flesh, you didn’t despise nor reject; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

You became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,

For this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that when you received from us the word of the message of God, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also works in you who believe.

They have testified about your love before the assembly. You will do well to send them forward on their journey in a way worthy of God,

The men rose up from there, and looked toward Sodom. Abraham went with them to see them on their way.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways. Sinners will be converted to you.

When he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’

But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’ ”

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.”

“Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord,

Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,

Now the apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.

When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life!”

As the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of God. As many as were appointed to eternal life believed.

The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Some men came down from Judea and taught the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised after the custom of Moses, you can’t be saved.”

But those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens. Receiving a commandment to Silas and Timothy that they should come to him very quickly, they departed.

Having found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard, and set sail.

From there the brothers, when they heard of us, came to meet us as far as The Market of Appius and The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.

and by you to pass into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and to be sent forward by you on my journey to Judea.

“He has blinded their eyes and he hardened their heart, lest they should see with their eyes, and perceive with their heart, and would turn, and I would heal them.”