They then accordingly assembling together, asked him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time reestablish the kingdom of Israel?

who also said to them, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up to heaven? this Jesus, who hath been taken up from you into heaven, shall so come, in the same manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Men and brethren, it must needs be that this scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost delivered before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was the conductor of those who seized on Jesus.

For he was reckoned of our number, and had obtained an appointment to this ministry.

This man indeed accordingly purchased a spot of ground with the wages of iniquity; and projected forward, he burst in the midst, and all his bowels fell out.

And it was a fact known to all who dwelt at Jerusalem; so that this field is called in their own dialect, Aceldama, that is, The field of blood.

to take a part in this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, to go to his own place.

And when this report spread, the multitude collected around them, and were overwhelmed with astonishment, because they heard them speaking every one in his own peculiar dialect.

And they were all amazed, and much perplexed, and knew not what to think, saying one to another, What can this mean?

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice, and addressed them; Men of Judea, and all ye who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words:

But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel;

Men and brethren, permit me to speak with freedom to you concerning the patriarch David, that he hath been both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us to this day.

he, foreseeing this, spake of the resurrection of the Messiah, that his soul should not be left in the mansion of the dead, and that his flesh should not see corruption.

This very Jesus hath God raised up, of which we all are witnesses.

He therefore being exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, hath poured out this, which ye now see and hear.

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

And with many other words he testified and exhorted, saying, Be saved from this untoward generation.

Then Peter observing it, addressed himself to the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why gaze ye upon us, as if by our own power or piety we had enabled this man to walk?

And through faith in his name hath his name restored this man to strength, whom ye behold and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the sight of you all.

And now, brethren, I know that through ignorance ye did this deed, as did also your rulers.

And placing them in the midst, they interrogated them, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this thing?

if we are this day examined relative to the good deed done to the infirm man, by what means he was restored;

be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarean, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him doth this man stand here sound in your presence.

This is the stone which, though set at nought by you builders, is become the head of the corner.

But that it be no farther spread among the people, we will menace them with threats, no more to speak in this name to any man.

For the man was more than forty years of age, upon whom this miracle of healing was performed.

it remained unsold, was it not vested in thee? and when sold, was it not in thine own power? why then hast thou determined in thine heart to do this deed? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

Go, and taking your station in the temple, speak to the people all the words of this life.

Having heard this therefore, they entered very early in the morning into the temple, and taught. But when the high-priest came, and those who were with him, they convoked the sanhedrim, and all the assembly of elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to bring them.

saying, Did we not lay our strict injunction upon you, that you should not teach in this name? and, lo, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and would fain bring this man's blood upon us.

But when they heard this, they were cut asunder as with a saw, and took counsel how to make away with them.

And as to the matters now before you, I say unto you, Abstain from these men, and leave them to themselves: for if this design or this work be of men, it will come to nothing:

Then they went rejoicing from the presence of the sanhedrim, that for his name's sake, they had been counted worthy to suffer this injurious treatment.

Therefore, brethren, do ye look out for seven men from among yourselves, the best approved, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint to superintend this business.

And this saying was very agreeable to all the multitude: and they elected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicholas a proselyte a man of Antioch:

and they set up false witnesses, saying, This man doth not cease speaking blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:

for we have heard him affirm, that Jesus the Nazarean, even he, will destroy this place, and change the accustomed ordinances which Moses delivered to us.

Then he went out from the country of the Chaldeans, and, dwelt in Charran: and from thence, after his father was dead, God removed him as a sojourner into this very country, in which we now dwell.

And the nation by which they shall be enslaved will I judge, said God: and after these things they shall come out, and shall worship me in this place.

This man, forming crafty designs against our nation, grievously treated our fathers, so as to cause them to expose their children, in order to exterminate the race.

Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a sojourner in the land of Midian, where he begat two sons.

This very Moses whom they had rejected, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.

This is the Moses who said unto the children of Israel, "A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up for you from among your brethren, as myself; him shall ye hear."

This is he, who was with the church in the wilderness with the angel who spake to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the oracles of life to give unto us:

saying to Aaron, Make us gods who shall go before us: for this Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what hath happened to him.

Then falling on his knees, he cried with a loud voice, Lord, impute not to them this sin! And thus speaking, fell asleep.

to whom all gave heed from the small to the great, saying, This man is the great power of God.

saying, Confer on me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay my hands, they may receive the Holy Ghost.

There is for thee neither part nor lot in this word: for thy heart is not right before God.

Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray to God, if haply this thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee.

The portion of scripture which he had been reading was this: "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before him who sheareth it is dumb, so he opened not his mouth:

besought of him letters for the synagogues at Damascus, that if he should find any persons of this way, whether men or women, he might bring them in chains to Jerusalem.

But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many of this man, how many evils he hath inflicted on thy saints at Jerusalem:

But the Lord said unto him, Go: for this man is an elect vessel for me, to bear my name before nations, and kings, and the children of Israel:

And all who heard him were amazed, and said, Is not this the man who made havoc at Jerusalem, among those who called on this name? and hither he came for this purpose, that he might carry them in chains unto the chief priests?

But Saul was endued with still greater power, and confounded the Jews who dwelt at Damascus, conclusively evincing that this person is the Messiah.

But there was at Joppa a woman, a disciple, named Tabitha, (which by interpretation is called Dorcas:) this woman was full of good works and of alms which she did.

Then looking stedfastly on him, and being terrified, he said, What means this, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

he lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is near the sea: this man will tell thee what thou must do.

This was thrice repeated: and the vessel was again taken up into heaven.

Then Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting till this hour; and at the ninth hour I was praying in my house, and, lo! a man stood before me in shining apparel,

And hath commanded us to proclaim to the people, and to bear our testimony that this is the person who is ordained of God the Judge of the living and the dead.

Now this was repeated thrice: and the whole withdrawn again into heaven.

And seeing how agreeable this was to the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)

The God of this people Israel selected our fathers, and exalted the people during their abode in the land of Egypt, and with a mighty arm brought he them out of it.

From this man's seed according to the promise hath God raised up to Israel a Saviour, Jesus:

Men and brethren, children of the race of Abraham, and all among you who fear God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.

for this hath God fulfilled to their children, even to us, in raising up Jesus: as it is also written in the second Psalm, "Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee."

Be it therefore known unto you, men and brethren, that through this man remission of sin is proclaimed to you:

and by this man shall every one who believeth be justified from all things, from which it was not possible that he should be justified by the law of Moses.

Take heed then, that this come not upon you, which is spoken by the prophets;

Now when the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced, and glorified the word of the Lord: and they believed, even as many as were ordained to life eternal.

this person heard Paul speaking; who fixing his eyes on him, and discovering that he had faith to be healed,

There being therefore no small contention and dispute maintained by Paul and Barnabas against them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain others of their body, should go up to the apostles and presbyters at Jerusalem, for the decision of this question.

Then the apostles and presbyters were assembled to consider of this matter.

And in accord with this are the words of the prophets; as it is written,

"After this will I return, and build again the tabernacle of David, that is fallen; and re-edify what hath been dug up from the foundation, and will set it upright again:

And this she did for several days. Then Paul was wearied out, and turning, said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out that very hour.

opening them clearly, and laying it evidently down that the Messiah must suffer, and rise again from the dead; and that this man is the Messiah, even Jesus, whom I preach unto you.

Then immediately on this the brethren sent off Paul, to go as if by sea: but Silas and Timothy abode there still.

Then certain of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers attacked him: and some said, What will this chattering fellow say? but others, He seemeth to be a preacher of foreign deities, because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.

So they took him and led him to the hill of Mars, saying, May we know what this novel doctrine taught by thee is?

For as I walked about, and attentively viewed the objects of your worship, I found even an altar on which was this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore you in ignorance adore, him I preach unto you.

because he hath fixed the day in which he will judge the whole world in righteousness by the man whom he hath appointed; affording evidence of this to all, by raising him from the dead.

But when they heard of the resurrection from the dead, Some scoffed: and others said, We will hear thee again on this subject.

But as they continued opposing and blaspheming, he shook his garments, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am pure from it: from this moment will I go to the Gentiles.

for I am with thee, and no man shall set himself against thee to do thee harm; because I have much people in this city.

saying, This is the fellow that earnestly persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.

If indeed this was now a matter of injustice, or wicked knavery, with reason I should hear you patiently; but if it be merely a controversy about the word, and names, and a law peculiar to yourselves, settle it yourselves: for I will be no judge of these matters.

So this man began to speak with great boldness in the synagogue: but when Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him home with them, and more accurately expounded to him the way of the Lord.

And this he did for two years; so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

And they were seven sons of Sceva a Jew, a chief priest, who did this.

And this was known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who dwelt at Ephesus: and fear fell on them all, and they magnified the name of the Lord.

And there happened at that time no small disturbance about this way.

whom collecting together, with the workmen also of such trinkets, he said, Sirs, ye know that by this employment we make our advantageous livelihood:

and ye see and hear how not only at Ephesus, but almost through all Asia, this fellow Paul, by his persuasions, hath perverted a vast multitude, affirming that they are not gods which are made with hands:

so that not only is this our trade in danger of falling into contempt, but also that this temple of the great goddess Diana should be counted as nothing, and that henceforth also her magnificence should be utterly destroyed, whom all Asia and the whole world worshippeth.

On hearing this then, and being filled with rage, they cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

For we are even in danger of being called to account for this day's insurrection, there being no cause on account of which we can justify this tumultuary concourse:

only this, that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying, that bonds and tribulation await thee.