Jesus

51Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

"You are stubborn people. Your hearts and ears are shut. You always push away the Holy Spirit. Your fathers did it, and you do it too."

52Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:

"Your fathers were cruel to every prophet. They killed the ones who said the Righteous One was coming. Now you have handed him over and killed him."

53Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.

"God's law was given to you through angels. But you have not obeyed it."

54When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.

When the leaders heard this, they were very angry. They ground their teeth at him.

55But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

But Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit. He looked up into heaven. He saw the shining glory of God. He saw Jesus standing at God's right side.

56And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

He said, "Look! I see heaven opened. I see the Son of Man standing at God's right side."

57Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,

Then they shouted very loudly and covered their ears. They all rushed at him together.

58And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.

They dragged him out of the city and threw stones at him. The men who spoke against him laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.

59And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

While they threw the stones, Stephen prayed. He said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

60And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Then he knelt down and cried out loudly. He said, "Lord, do not blame them for this sin." After he said this, he died.

1And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

Saul was still saying angry things about the followers of Jesus. He even wanted them killed. He went to the high priest, the top leader at the temple.

2And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

Saul asked him for letters to the meeting places in Damascus. Then, if he found any men or women who followed the way of Jesus, he could tie them up. He would bring them back to Jerusalem.

3And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

Saul was on the road, coming close to Damascus. Suddenly a light from heaven flashed all around him.

4And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

He fell down on the ground. He heard a voice say, "Saul, Saul, why are you hurting me?"

5And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Saul asked, "Who are you, Lord?" The Lord said, "I am Jesus. You are hurting me. Kicking against a sharp stick only hurts you."

6And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Saul was shaking and amazed. He said, "Lord, what do you want me to do?" The Lord said, "Get up and go into the city. Someone will tell you what to do."

7And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

The men walking with Saul stood still. They could not say a word. They heard the voice, but they saw no one.

8And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

Saul got up from the ground. He opened his eyes, but he could not see. So the men led him by the hand into Damascus.

9And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

For three days he could not see. He did not eat or drink anything.

34Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

Then Peter began to speak. He said, "Now I really understand. God does not treat one kind of person better than another."

35But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

"In every nation, God welcomes anyone who honors him and does what is right."

36The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

"God sent his message to the people of Israel. It is the good news of peace, which comes through Jesus Christ. He is Lord of everyone."

37That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;

"You know that message. It spread all through Judea. It began in Galilee, after John taught the people and baptized them in water."

38How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

"God gave Jesus of Nazareth the Holy Spirit and great power. Jesus went from place to place doing good. He healed everyone the devil had hurt, because God was with him."

39And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

"We saw everything Jesus did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a wooden cross."

40Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;

"But on the third day God raised him back to life. God let him be seen."

41Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.

"Not everyone saw him. Only we saw him, the people God had chosen long before. We ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead."

42And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

"He told us to tell the people this news. God chose him to be the judge of everyone, both the living and the dead."

43To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

"All the prophets said this about him. Prophets were people who told others what God said. Everyone who trusts in him has their sins forgiven because of him."

23Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:

God promised to send Israel a Savior from David's family, and he did. That Savior is Jesus. A Savior is someone who rescues people.

24When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

Before Jesus began his work, John told all the people of Israel to turn away from their sins. He baptized them, which means he washed them in water to show their hearts had changed.

25And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.

As John was finishing his work, he said, "Who do you think I am? I am not the one you are waiting for. Someone is coming after me. I am not good enough to untie his shoes."

26Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.

"Brothers, children of Abraham's family, and all of you who worship God, listen. This message about being saved was sent to us.

27For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.

The people in Jerusalem and their leaders did not know who Jesus was. They did not understand the prophets' words, even though those words are read every Sabbath. By saying Jesus was guilty, they did just what the prophets said would happen.

28And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain.

They could find no reason to put him to death. Even so, they asked Pilate, the Roman ruler, to have him killed.

29And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.

They did everything that was written about him. Then they took his body down from the tree and laid it in a tomb.

30But God raised him from the dead:

But God raised him from the dead.

31And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.

For many days he was seen by the people who came with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. Now they tell everyone what they saw.

32And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,

We are bringing you good news. God made a promise to our fathers long ago.

33God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

He has kept that promise for us, their children, by raising Jesus back to life. The second psalm says this: "You are my Son. Today I have become your Father."

23For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:

I am passing on to you what the Lord gave me. On the night Jesus was handed over to his enemies, he took bread.

24And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

He thanked God, then broke the bread. He said, "Take this and eat it. This is my body, broken for you. Do this to remember me."

25After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

After the meal he took the cup the same way. He said, "This cup is God's new agreement, made with my blood. Every time you drink it, do this to remember me."

26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

Every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are telling about the Lord's death. You do this until he comes back.

3For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

I received this message myself, and I passed it on to you first of all. Christ, God's chosen one, died to take away our sins. The holy writings said this would happen.

4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

He was buried. On the third day he was raised back to life. The holy writings said this too.

5And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

Then he let Cephas see him. After that, his twelve close followers saw him.

6After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

After that, more than five hundred believers saw him at one time. Most of them are still alive. Some have died.

7After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

After that, James saw him. Then all the apostles saw him. Apostles were the men Jesus sent out to teach.

8And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

Last of all, he let me see him too. I was like a baby born at the wrong time.

5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Think and act the same way Christ Jesus did.

6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Jesus had everything that makes God, God. But he did not hold on tightly to being equal with God.

7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Instead he gave all of that up. He took the place of a servant. He was born as a human being like us.

8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

He lived as a man. He made himself low. He obeyed God all the way to death. He even died on a cross.

9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

So God lifted Jesus up to the highest place of all. God gave him the name that is greater than every other name.

10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

One day everyone will bend the knee when they hear the name of Jesus. That means everyone in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.

11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Everyone will say out loud that Jesus Christ is Lord, the one in charge. This brings honor to God the Father.

1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Many people trusted God before us. They are like a huge crowd around us. So let us drop everything that weighs us down. Let us drop the sin that trips us so easily. Let us keep running the race God has set for us.

2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Keep your eyes on Jesus. He is the one who starts our trust in God and finishes it. He knew a great joy was coming. So he put up with the cross and did not care about the shame. Now he sits at God's right side, in the place of highest honor.

3For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Think about Jesus. Bad people said cruel things against him, and he kept going. Think about him, so you do not get tired inside and give up.