And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them.

They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.

For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day;

“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know—

For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”

and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.

and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk?

“And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also.

As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them,

if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well,

Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.

and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.

And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it.

Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.”

Now when the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them as to what would come of this.

He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

But He gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot of ground, and yet, even when he had no child, He promised that He would give it to him as a possession, and to his descendants after him.

“But as the time of the promise was approaching which God had assured to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt,

And after he had been set outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him away and nurtured him as her own son.

On the following day he appeared to them as they were fighting together, and he tried to reconcile them in peace, saying, ‘Men, you are brethren, why do you injure one another?’

You do not mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday, do you?’

When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight; and as he approached to look more closely, there came the voice of the Lord:

But God turned away and delivered them up to serve the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, ‘It was not to Me that you offered victims and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, was it, O house of Israel?

“Our fathers had the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as He who spoke to Moses directed him to make it according to the pattern which he had seen.

However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says:

“You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did.

you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.”

They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”

The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing.

Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.

saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this:
“He was led as a sheep to slaughter;
And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
So He does not open His mouth.

As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch *said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?”

And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.

But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he kept preaching the gospel to all the cities until he came to Caesarea.

As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him;

Now as Peter was traveling through all those regions, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.

And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God.

On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray.

Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what the vision which he had seen might be, behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions for Simon’s house, appeared at the gate;

As he talked with him, he entered and *found many people assembled.

That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask for what reason you have sent for me.”

And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead.

“Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?”

And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning.

Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”

Now when day came, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers as to what could have become of Peter.

When they reached Salamis, they began to proclaim the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; and they also had John as their helper.

When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a magician, a Jewish false prophet whose name was Bar-Jesus,

But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze on him,

When He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land as an inheritance—all of which took about four hundred and fifty years.

that God has fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm, ‘You are My Son; today i have begotten You.’

As for the fact that He raised Him up from the dead, no longer to return to decay, He has spoken in this way: ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’

As Paul and Barnabas were going out, the people kept begging that these things might be spoken to them the next Sabbath.

For so the Lord has commanded us,
‘I have placed You as a light for the Gentiles,
That You may bring salvation to the end of the earth.’”

When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

This man was listening to Paul as he spoke, who, when he had fixed his gaze on him and had seen that he had faith to be made well,

and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.

And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us;

But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”

All the people kept silent, and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul as they were relating what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.

With this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written,

It happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortune-telling.

But when the Jews of Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there as well, agitating and stirring up the crowds.

Then immediately the brethren sent Paul out to go as far as the sea; and Silas and Timothy remained there.

Now those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they left.

Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols.

nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things;

for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’

Not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of Asia and the world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence.”

But when they recognized that he was a Jew, a single outcry arose from them all as they shouted for about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

And there he spent three months, and when a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.

And there was a young man named Eutychus sitting on the window sill, sinking into a deep sleep; and as Paul kept on talking, he was overcome by sleep and fell down from the third floor and was picked up dead.

But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.

As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.

When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem.

As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the commander, “May I say something to you?” And he *said, “Do you know Greek?

“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today.

as also the high priest and all the Council of the elders can testify. From them I also received letters to the brethren, and started off for Damascus in order to bring even those who were there to Jerusalem as prisoners to be punished.

“But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me,

And as they were crying out and throwing off their cloaks and tossing dust into the air,

As he said this, there occurred a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

And as a great dissension was developing, the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them and ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force, and bring him into the barracks.

But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, “Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.”

Now therefore, you and the Council notify the commander to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case by a more thorough investigation; and we for our part are ready to slay him before he comes near the place.”

And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to the Council, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more thoroughly about him.

But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you.”

But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also very well know.

While they were spending many days there, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a man who was left as a prisoner by Felix;

When the accusers stood up, they began bringing charges against him not of such crimes as I was expecting,

since they have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion.

the promise to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day. And for this hope, O King, I am being accused by Jews.

And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities.

“While so engaged as I was journeying to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests,

And Paul said, “I would wish to God, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these chains.”

The next day as we were being violently storm-tossed, they began to jettison the cargo;