John

14The apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received God's word. So they sent Peter and John to the people there.

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

NotePeter and John were two of Jesus' closest friends. They were leaders of the church in Jerusalem.

15Peter and John came down and prayed for the people. They asked that the people would receive the Holy Spirit.

Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

NoteThe Holy Spirit is God himself, coming close to people to help them.

16The Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

17Then Peter and John laid their hands on them. And they received the Holy Spirit.

Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

NotePutting your hands on someone's head was a way of praying for them. It was like saying, "God's gift is for you."

18Simon saw that the Spirit came when the apostles laid their hands on people. So he offered the apostles money.

And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

19He said, "Give me this power too. Then anyone I touch will receive the Holy Spirit."

Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

20But Peter said to him, "May your money be destroyed with you. You thought you could buy God's gift with money."

But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

NoteMoney then was made of silver coins. The King James says "Thy money perish with thee," which means, "Let your money be destroyed along with you."

21"You have no part and no share in this work. Your heart is not right in God's sight."

Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

NoteThe King James says "neither part nor lot." A lot was a stone used to share things out fairly. Peter is saying Simon gets no share at all.

22"So turn away from this wrong you have done. Pray to the Lord. Maybe he will forgive what you were thinking."

Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

NoteTo repent means to turn away from something wrong and change how you live.

23"I can see that you are full of bitterness. Wrong is holding you tight, like a rope."

For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

NoteThe King James says "the gall of bitterness." Gall is a taste so bitter it makes you want to spit. Peter means Simon's heart is sour inside.

24Then Simon answered, "Please pray to the Lord for me. I do not want any of this to happen to me."

Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the LORD for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

25Peter and John told what they had seen and taught the Lord's word. Then they started back to Jerusalem. On the way they told the good news in many Samaritan villages.

And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

1Fourteen years later I went back to the city of Jerusalem. Barnabas came with me. I took Titus too.

Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.

NoteJerusalem was the most important city for Jewish people. The first leaders of the believers met there. Barnabas and Titus were friends who traveled with Paul.

2I went because God showed me to go. I told them the good news I preach to Gentiles, people who are not Jewish. I talked privately with the leaders there. I did not want my work to be wasted.

And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.

NoteGentiles means everyone in the world who is not Jewish. "Preach" means to stand up and tell people about God. The "good news" is the message that Jesus came to save people.

3Titus was with me, and he was Greek, not Jewish. Still, no one made him get circumcised.

But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:

NoteCircumcision was a small cut made on a boy's body. It was a sign that his family belonged to God's people, the Jews. Some people said Gentiles had to do this too. Paul said no.

4This came up because some false brothers had sneaked in. They pretended to be friends. They came to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus. They wanted to tie us up with rules again.

And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

NoteBelievers called each other brothers and sisters. So "false brothers" means men who only pretended to be believers.

5We did not give in to them, not even for a moment. We wanted the true good news to stay with you.

To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

6Some men there were treated as very important. What they were makes no difference to me. God does not treat one person as better than another. Those leaders added nothing to my message.

But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man’s person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:

7Instead they saw something clearly. God had given me the job of telling the good news to people who are not Jewish. Peter had the job of telling it to Jewish people.

But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;

NotePeter was one of Jesus' closest friends. He became a leader of the believers.

8God worked in Peter and sent him out to the Jewish people. The same God worked powerfully in me and sent me to the Gentiles.

(For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)

9James, Cephas, and John were seen as pillars, the leaders who held the group up. They saw the kind gift God had given me. They shook hands with me and Barnabas as partners. We would go to people who are not Jewish. They would go to Jewish people.

And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

NoteCephas is another name for Peter. It is the same man. A pillar is a big stone post that holds up a roof. People called these three men pillars because the whole group leaned on them. Shaking right hands was a promise to work together.

10They asked us for only one thing. They wanted us to remember poor people. I was already glad to do that.

Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

NoteMany believers in Jerusalem had very little food or money. Paul collected gifts from other towns to help them.

1This book shows things that Jesus Christ made known. God gave this message to Jesus. It shows God's servants what must happen soon. Jesus sent his angel, a messenger from God, to his servant John.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

NoteThe word "revelation" means showing something that was hidden before. The King James word "shew" is our word "show." A servant is someone whose job is to serve another person.

2John told people everything he saw. He told them God's word and the true message about Jesus Christ.

Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

NoteThe King James says John "bare record." That means he told people what he had seen. A testimony is what someone says about what really happened.

3God blesses the one who reads these words out loud. He blesses those who hear this message and obey what is written here. This is because the time is near.

Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

NoteA prophecy is a message from God about things that will happen. "Blessed" means God is very good to that person. "At hand" is an old way to say "very close."

4This letter is from John. It is for seven churches, groups of believers, in the land called Asia. May God be kind to you and give you peace. He is the one who is here now, who has always been, and who is coming. Kindness and peace also come from the seven Spirits in front of his throne.

John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

Note"Grace" means God being kind to us when we did not earn it. The Asia here is not the huge land we call Asia today. It was a small part of the country we now call Turkey. A throne is the special chair a king sits on. A church is a group of people, not a building.

5Kindness and peace come from Jesus Christ too. He always tells the truth. He was the first to rise from the dead. He rules over the kings of the earth. He loves us. He washed our sins away with his own blood.

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

NoteA witness is someone who tells what he really saw. Sins are the wrong things people do. Washing sins away in blood is a word picture. It means the wrong things are forgiven and gone. In old English a "prince" is a ruler, not a king's son.

6He made us kings. He made us priests, people who serve God, his Father. May Jesus have glory and power forever and ever. Amen, which means "yes, this is true."

And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

NotePriests worked in God's house long ago. They helped people bring their gifts to God. "Glory" means great honor and praise. "Dominion" is an old word for the power to rule. People say "Amen" at the end of a prayer. Some old copies of this verse say "a kingdom" instead of "kings."

7Look! He is coming with the clouds. Every eye will see him. Even the people who stabbed him will see him. All the families of the earth will cry out loud because of him. Yes, it will happen. Amen.

Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Note"Behold" is an old word that means "Look!" "Kindreds" means families and groups of people. To "wail" is to cry out loud with sadness. Jesus was poked with a spear when he died on the cross.

8"I am Alpha and Omega," says the Lord. "I am the beginning and the end." He is the one who is here now, who has always been, and who is coming. He is the Almighty, the one with all power.

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

NoteAlpha and Omega are two letters from the Greek alphabet. Greek was the language this book was first written in. Alpha is the first letter and Omega is the last one. It is like saying, "I am A and Z."

9I am John, your brother. I share the hard times with you. I also share God's kingdom and the patient waiting that comes from belonging to Jesus. I was on an island called Patmos. I was there because I told God's word and the truth about Jesus.

I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Note"Tribulation" is an old word for hard times and trouble. Patmos is a small rocky island in the sea. John was sent there because he talked about Jesus. Here "patience" means keeping going bravely when things are hard.

10On the Lord's day, God's Spirit took hold of me. I heard a loud voice behind me. It sounded like a trumpet, a loud horn.

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

NoteThe Lord's day was Sunday. Christians met together on that day. To be "in the Spirit" means God showed John special things. It was like having a dream while wide awake.

11The voice said, "I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. Write down what you see in a book. Send it to the seven churches in Asia. Send it to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea."

Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

NoteThese seven towns were all fairly close to each other. They were in the land we now call Turkey. A messenger would carry the letter from one town to the next. A book back then was a scroll, a long rolled-up sheet.

6Then the angel said to me, "These words are true, and you can trust them. The Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel. The prophets were people who told others what God said. God sent the angel to show his servants what must happen soon."

And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.

7"Listen! I am coming soon. Blessed is anyone who obeys the words of this book. These words tell what is going to happen."

Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

NoteTo bless someone means to be kind and give them good things.

8I am John. I saw these things and I heard them. When I had heard and seen them, I knelt down to worship. I knelt at the feet of the angel who showed me these things.

And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.

NoteTo worship means to show someone how great they are. People often knelt down to do it.

9But he said to me, "Do not do that! I serve God, just as you do. I serve along with your brothers the prophets. I serve with everyone who obeys the words of this book. Worship God!"

Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

NoteBrothers here does not mean boys in the same family. It means other people who love God.

10Then he said to me, "Do not close this book up and keep it secret. The time is near."

And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

NoteLong ago a letter was closed with soft wax pressed shut. That is called sealing it. The angel says to leave this book open instead.

11"Let the person who does wrong keep doing wrong. Let the person who is dirty inside stay dirty. Let the person who does right keep doing right. Let the holy person, who belongs to God, stay holy."

He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

NoteDirty inside does not mean dirty hands or clothes. It means doing bad things.

12"Listen! I am coming soon. I am bringing my reward with me. I will pay each person for what he has done."

And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

NoteA reward is something you are given for what you have done.

13"I am the Alpha and the Omega. I am the beginning and the end. I am the first and the last."

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

NoteAlpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Greek is the language this book was written in. So it is like saying, "I am A and Z."

14God blesses the people who obey his commands. They will be allowed to eat from the tree of life. They may walk through the gates into the city.

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

15Outside the city are the dogs. Outside are people who do magic. Outside are people who do sexual things that are not right. Outside are people who kill others, and people who worship false gods. Outside are all who love to lie and who tell lies.

For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

NoteDogs here does not mean pet dogs. It was a mean name for people left outside. Doing magic meant saying secret words to try to control things. False gods are statues that people prayed to. Outside means not inside the city.

16"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to tell you these things. They are for the churches, the groups of people who follow me. I am the root of David, and I come from David's family. I am the bright morning star that shines before the sun comes up."

I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

NoteDavid was a famous king of God's people long ago. A root is the part of a tree hidden under the ground. Everything in the tree grows out of it.

17The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" Let everyone who hears this say, "Come!" Let anyone who is thirsty come. Anyone who wants the water of life may drink it. It costs nothing.

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

NoteThe Spirit means God's own Spirit. A bride is a woman on her wedding day. Here the bride is a picture of all God's people.

18I give this warning to everyone who hears the words of this book. If anyone adds anything to these words, God will add something to him. God will give him the terrible troubles written about in this book.

For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

NoteTo testify means to promise that something is true. The King James word here is "plagues." A plague is a very bad sickness or trouble.

19And if anyone takes away any words from this book, God will take something away from him. He will lose his share in the book of life and in the holy city. He will lose the things written about in this book.

And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

NoteThe book of life is a list of names. Kings kept lists of the people who belonged to them.

20The one who tells us these things are true says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. That word means, "Yes, it is true." Come, Lord Jesus!

He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

21May the kind love of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

NoteGrace means kindness given as a gift. Nobody has to earn it first.