Acts 4:18

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

With great power, the apostles gave their testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Great grace was on them all.

He said to them, “Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to the whole creation.

in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of God’s Spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and around as far as to Illyricum, I have fully preached the Good News of Christ;

Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

We are his witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

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

But I say, didn’t they hear? Yes, most certainly, “Their sound went out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”

For John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

You will also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.

Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, “This is Yahweh’s word to Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says Yahweh of Armies.

This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses.

This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Behold, I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will in any way hurt you.

beginning from the baptism of John, to the day that he was received up from us, of these one must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”

and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, to which we are witnesses.

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.

and he was seen for many days by those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses to the people.

For you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard.

Yahweh has made his holy arm bare in the eyes of all the nations. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Yahweh, my strength, and my stronghold, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the nations will come to you from the ends of the earth, and will say, “Our fathers have inherited nothing but lies, vanity and things in which there is no profit.

But as for me, I am full of power by Yahweh’s Spirit, and of judgment, and of might, to declare to Jacob his disobedience, and to Israel his sin.

They urged him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is almost evening, and the day is almost over.” He went in to stay with them.

You are witnesses of these things.

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you.

if it is so that you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the Good News which you heard, which is being proclaimed in all creation under heaven, of which I, Paul, was made a servant.

All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to Yahweh. All the relatives of the nations shall worship before you.

“I will set a sign among them, and I will send those who escape of them to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to far-away islands, who have not heard my fame, nor have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the nations.

What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim on the housetops.

The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God.

Behold, I send out the promise of my Father on you. But wait in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high.”

It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life.

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.

Yet no one spoke openly of him for fear of the Jews.

Nevertheless even many of the rulers believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they didn’t confess it, so that they wouldn’t be put out of the synagogue,

They will put you out of the synagogues. Yes, the time comes that whoever kills you will think that he offers service to God.

He has remembered his loving kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Sing to Yahweh a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is therein, the islands and their inhabitants.

Indeed, he says, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel. I will also give you as a light to the nations, that you may be my salvation to the end of the earth.”

“So you, son of man: I have set you a watchman to the house of Israel. Therefore hear the word from my mouth, and give them warnings from me.

But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to councils, and in their synagogues they will scourge you.

Therefore don’t be afraid of them, for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed; and hidden that will not be known.

Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven.

Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude and mock you, and throw out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake.

For so has the Lord commanded us, saying, ‘I have set you as a light for the Gentiles, that you should bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth.’ ”

Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt to this day, I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them.

He called to himself his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness.

Jesus sent these twelve out, and commanded them, saying, “Don’t go among the Gentiles, and don’t enter into any city of the Samaritans.

He answered them, “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man,

He appointed twelve, that they might be with him, and that he might send them out to preach,

But watch yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils. You will be beaten in synagogues. You will stand before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them.

even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us,

Woe to you lawyers! For you took away the key of knowledge. You didn’t enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in, you hindered.”

He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks; and he was a Samaritan.

Many more believed because of his word.

They answered him, “You were altogether born in sins, and do you teach us?” Then they threw him out.

Jesus therefore said to them again, “Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send 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.

They agreed with him. Summoning the apostles, they beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

We are witnesses of everything he did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they also killed, hanging him on a tree.

Brothers, children of the stock of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, the word of this salvation is sent out to you.

that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

When they had gone over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be on me.”

When the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho facing him saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” They came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.

Shall the throne of wickedness have fellowship with you, which brings about mischief by statute?

Your people offer themselves willingly in the day of your power, in holy array. Out of the womb of the morning, you have the dew of your youth.

Doesn’t wisdom cry out? Doesn’t understanding raise her voice?

Many peoples shall go and say, “Come, let’s go up to the mountain of Yahweh, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For the law shall go out of Zion, and Yahweh’s word from Jerusalem.

who tell the seers, “Don’t see!” and the prophets, “Don’t prophesy to us right things. Tell us pleasant things. Prophesy deceits.

“You are my witnesses,” says Yahweh, “With my servant whom I have chosen; that you may know and believe me, and understand that I am he. Before me there was no God formed, neither will there be after me.

Don’t fear, neither be afraid. Haven’t I declared it to you long ago, and shown it? You are my witnesses. Is there a God besides me? Indeed, there is not. I don’t know any other Rock.”

You have heard it. Now see all this. And you, won’t you declare it? “I have shown you new things from this time, even hidden things, which you have not known.

“Stand in the gate of Yahweh’s house, and proclaim this word there, and say, ‘Hear Yahweh’s word, all you of Judah, who enter in at these gates to worship Yahweh.’ ”

He said to me, “Son of man, go to the house of Israel, and speak my words to them.

I raised up some of your sons for prophets, and some of your young men for Nazirites. Isn’t this true, you children of Israel?” says Yahweh.

“But you gave the Nazirites wine to drink, and commanded the prophets, saying, ‘Don’t prophesy!’

and Yahweh took me from following the flock, and Yahweh said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’

“Don’t prophesy!” They prophesy. “Don’t prophesy about these things. Disgrace won’t overtake us.”

When he had come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority do you do these things? Who gave you this authority?”

But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all hold John as a prophet.”

Therefore behold, I send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city;

At the proper season, he sent a servant to the farmers to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the farmers beat him, and sent him away empty.

The Samaritan woman therefore said to him, “How is it that you, being a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)

His parents said these things because they feared the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if any man would confess him as Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue.

The Jews therefore came around him and said to him, “How long will you hold us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had commanded that if anyone knew where he was, he should report it, that they might seize him.

Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues, and in the temple, where the Jews always meet. I said nothing in secret.

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.”

“Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.”

saying, “Didn’t we strictly command you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood on us.”

who will speak to you words by which you will be saved, you and all your house.’

Five times I received forty stripes minus one from the Jews.