So he was staying with them, associating openly with them<n id="1" /> in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord.

He found there a man named Aeneas who had been confined to a mattress for eight years because<n id="1" /> he was paralyzed.

But Peter helped him up,<n id="1" /> saying, &#8220;Stand up. I too am a mere mortal.&#8221;<n id="2" />

<p class="bodytext">Then Peter started speaking:<n id="1" /> &#8220;I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism in dealing with people,<n id="2" />

but in every nation<n id="1" /> the person who fears him<n id="2" /> and does what is right<n id="3" /> is welcomed before him.

You know<n id="1" /> the message<n id="2" /> he sent to the people<n id="3" /> of Israel, proclaiming the good news of peace<n id="4" /> through<n id="5" /> Jesus Christ<n id="6" /> (he is Lord<n id="7" /> of all) &#8211;

The<n id="1" /> hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed<n id="2" /> turned<n id="3" /> to the Lord.

because he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and a significant number of people<n id="1" /> were brought to the Lord.

<p class="bodytext">At daybreak<n id="1" /> there was great consternation<n id="2" /> among the soldiers over what had become of Peter.

that this promise<n id="1" /> God has fulfilled to us, their children, by raising<n id="2" /> Jesus, as also it is written in the second psalm, &#8216;<b><i>You are my Son;i>b><n id="3" /> <b><i>today I have fathered youi>b>.&#8217;<n id="4" />

Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through this one<n id="1" /> forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,

They began to call<n id="1" /> Barnabas Zeus<n id="2" /> and Paul Hermes,<n id="3" /> because he was the chief speaker.

Both Judas and Silas, who were prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with a long speech.<n id="1" />

and are advocating<n id="1" /> customs that are not lawful for us to accept<n id="2" /> or practice,<n id="3" /> since we are<n id="4" /> Romans.&#8221;p>

But Paul called out loudly,<n id="1" /> &#8220;Do not harm yourself,<n id="2" /> for we are all here!&#8221;

The police officers reported these words to the magistrates. They were frightened when they heard Paul and Silas<n id="1" /> were Roman citizens<n id="2" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">After they traveled through<n id="1" /> Amphipolis<n id="2" /> and Apollonia,<n id="3" /> they came to Thessalonica,<n id="4" /> where there was a Jewish synagogue.<n id="5" />

For you are bringing some surprising things<n id="1" /> to our ears, so we want to know what they<n id="2" /> mean.&#8221;

for he refuted the Jews vigorously<n id="1" /> in public debate,<n id="2" /> demonstrating from the scriptures that the Christ<n id="3" /> was Jesus.<n id="4" />p>

Therefore I declare<n id="1" /> to you today that I am innocent<n id="2" /> of the blood of you all.<n id="3" />