Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout converts followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel sea and land to make one convert, and when he is made, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.
But the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their territory.
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
For a long time therefore they remained speaking boldly in the Lord, who gave testimony to the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she was receptive to the things which were spoken by Paul.
And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he presented and testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.
And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte from Antioch:
And if by grace, then it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it is of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
If you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; of which I Paul am made a minister;
Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing for the heart to be established with grace, not with foods, which have not benefited those who have been occupied with them.
By Silvanus, a faithful brother to you, as I consider him, I have written briefly, encouraging, and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.
Whoever transgresses, and does not continue in the doctrine of Christ, does not have God. He that continues in the doctrine of Christ, he has both the Father and the Son.