to whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion, of which they had many proofs, during the forty days he appear'd to them, and inform'd them about the reign of the Messias:

and as they were looking stedfastly toward heaven, as he mounted up, on a sudden, two men appear'd before them robed in white, who said,

"ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up to heaven? this same Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven, shall descend in the same manner as ye have seen him ascend thither."

and said, men and brethren, the prediction which the holy ghost made, by the mouth of David, concerning Judas, who was guide to those that seiz'd Jesus, must have been accomplished.

wherefore of those who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus convers'd among us,

accordingly they presented two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was sirnamed Justus, and Matthias. and they prayed,

saying, "thou Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show us which of these two thou hast chosen,

and having drawn lots; the lot fell upon Matthias, who was added to the eleven apostles.

now many devout Jews were residing at Jerusalem, who came from all quarters of the world.

struck with astonishment and admiration, they said to one another, are not these men who are speaking, all Galileans?

ye men of Israel attend to what I say; Jesus of Nazareth was a man whom God distinguished among you, by miracles, by prodigies, and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as you your selves also know:

him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by means of the wicked, have crucified and slain: whom God hath raised up,

men and brethren, let me with assurance tell you of the patriarch David, who died and was buried here, his sepulchre being with us to this day:

'tis this Jesus whom God hath raised up, of which we all are witnesses.

therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

they were carrying a man who had been lame from his birth, one whom they daily laid at the gate of the temple called, Beauty-gate, to ask alms of those that pass'd into the temple.

and knowing it was he who us'd to sit begging at the Beauty-gate of the temple, they were filled with wonder and amazement at such an event.

As the lame man who was cured, held Peter and John, the people all in surprize ran to Solomon's porch, where they were.

the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and renounced in opposition to Pilate, who was determined to let him go.

but killed the prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

it is the faith which we have in him, that has procured strength to this man whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him, hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

repent therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshment shall come from the presence of the Lord, who shall send Jesus Christ,

who has been beforehand prepar'd thereto,

however, many who heard Peter's discourse, believed, to the number of about five thousand people.

and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you entirely recover'd.

yet seeing the man who was cured standing with them, they could not tell what to reply.

so when they had further threatned them, they let them go, not finding it practicable to punish them, because of the people, who all glorified God for that which was done.

for the man who was so miraculously cured, was above forty years old.

at the relation of which they unanimously lift up their voice to God, and said, Lord, thou art the God who hast made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all that is therein:

who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, "why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?

for it was truly against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, that Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, united themselves in this city,

among the rest one Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (that is to say, the son of consolation) a Levite, and a native of Cyprus,

Now there was a certain man named Ananias who with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

Thus were many signs and wonders wrought among the people, by the apostles, who us'd to meet in Solomon's porch with great unanimity:

but the people who reverenc'd them,

did not venture to approach near them. the number of those who believed in the Lord, both men and women, increas'd more and more.

multitudes came likewise from the neighbouring cities to Jerusalem, bringing their sick, and those who were tormented with impure spirits: who were all cured.

Then the high priest, and all that accompanied him, who were of the sect of the Sadducees, being filled with indignation,

but the officers who went there not finding them in the prison, returned, and made this report,

when somebody came and told them, the men whom ye order'd to prison, are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.

the God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew, and hanged on a tree.

and we are his witnesses in what we say, and so is the holy spirit, whom God hath given to those that obey him.

when a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of law, who was respected by all the people, rose up in the council, and moved the apostles might withdraw for some time.

for some time ago one Theudas started up, pretending to be something extraordinary, who was join'd indeed by about four hundred men: but he was no sooner put to death, than his followers all dispers'd, and were reduc'd to nothing.

wherefore, brethren, chuse out of your number seven persons of good reputation, full of the holy spirit and wisdom, who may have the management of this affair:

these they presented to the apostles: who after prayer gave them imposition of hands.

they suborned men, who said, we have heard him speak irreverently of Moses, and of God.

and they stirred up the people, the senators, and the doctors of law, who came and seiz'd him, and brought him to the council,

where they produc'd false witnesses, who said, this man is continually inveighing against the holy place, and against the law.

and the nation to whom they shall be in bondage, will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place."

at length he gave him the covenant of circumcision: accordingly Abraham circumcised his son Isaac eight days after he was born, Isaac was father of Jacob, who was father of the twelve patriarchs.

he delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him wisdom to become acceptable to Pharaoh king of Egypt; who made him governor of Egypt, and all his houshold.

till another king arose who knew not Joseph.

in which time Moses was born, who was exceeding fair, and nourished in his father's house three months:

but he that did his neighbour the injury repelled Moses, saying, who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?

this Moses whom they refused, saying, who made thee a ruler and a judge? the very same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hands of the angel that appeared to him in the bush.

he it was, who delivered them by doing prodigies and miracles in the land of Egypt, in the red sea, and in the wilderness for forty years.

this is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, "a prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear."

"make us gods, said they to Aaron, to be our guides: for as for this Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him."

which our fathers and Joshua having receiv'd, they carry'd it into the territory of those nations whom God drove out upon their arrival: where it staid to the time of David, who was favoured by God,

was there ever any prophet whom your fathers did not persecute? have they not slain those who predicted the coming of that just person whom you have so lately betrayed and murder'd?

you, I say, who received the law by the administration of angels, but have not however observ'd it.

and some devout men who carried Stephen to his burial, making great lamentation over him.

One Simon was then resident in that place, who pretended to be something extra-ordinary, and by his magical practices had so enchanted the people of Samaria,

no wonder they were so attach'd to one, who had for a long time infatuated them with his arts.

Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem, heard that the Samaritans had embraced the word of God, they sent Peter and John,

who upon their arrival, prayed for them that they might receive the holy spirit.

in his humiliation he was judged, he was taken off: and who shall describe the men of his time? for the land has taken away his life."

and the eunuch answered Philip, and said, pray, of whom does the prophet say this? of himself, or of some other?

and 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 goad. Then trembling with the fright Saul said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? and the Lord said to him,]

the mean while the men who accompany'd him, remain'd astonish'd, hearing a voice, but seeing no one.

Now there was a disciple at Damascus, named Ananias, to whom the Lord said in a vision, Ananias! and he said, Lord, here I am.

and he openly preach'd in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Hellenists, who therefore plotted against his life:

where finding a man named Eneas, a paralytic, who had kept his bed eight years,

Peter said to him, Eneas, Jesus, who is the Messiah, gives thee health: rise, and make your bed your self: upon which he immediately rose.

one day about the ninth hour, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God, who addrest himself to him, and said, Cornelius!

As Peter was still pondering upon the vision, the spirit said to him, there are people below, who enquire for you.

send therefore to Joppa, for one Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner, by the sea-side, who, when he is arriv'd, will give you information."

this was what he communicated to the children of Israel, proclaiming salvation by Jesus Christ, who is the Lord of all mankind.

not to all the people, but to those witnesses, which God had before chosen: to us, I say, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.

and he commanded us to publish, and to testify to the people, that he was the person whom God had constituted to be the judge of the living, and of the dead.

he is the person to whom all the prophets give this attestation, that all who believe in him, shall receive remission of sins, by his authority.

all the Jewish converts, who came with Paul, were astonished to see that the gift of the holy spirit was diffused likewise among the Gentiles.

In the mean time, the apostles, and the brethren, who were in Judea, heard that the Gentiles had likewise receiv'd the word of God.

he told us how he had seen an angel, who had presented himself to him, and had said, send to Joppa, to fetch Simon, surnam'd Peter:

who will give you such instructions, as will be the means of saving both you and all your family.

In the mean time they who were dispers'd upon the persecution that arose after Stephen's time, had travell'd as far as Phenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, without preaching the gospel to any, but Jews only.

who upon his arrival there, was glad to see such effects of the divine grace, and exhorted them all to remain firmly attach'd to the christian profession:

when he had knock'd at the door of the gate, a servant named Rhoda came to ask who was there.

and Saul had executed their commission, they return'd to Jerusalem, and took with them John who was surnam'd Mark.

Now there were several prophets and teachers in the church of Antioch, as Barnabas, Simeon surnam'd Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Having travers'd the isle as far as to Paphos, they found a Jew there nam'd Barjesus, who was a false prophet and magician:

he was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, a man of prudence: who sent for Barnabas and Saul, desiring to hear the word of God.

then Saul, who was nam'd likewise Paul, full of the holy spirit, look'd fixedly upon him,

God removed Saul, and rais'd up David to be their king, to whom he gave this testimonial, " I have found David the son of Jesse: he is a man most acceptable to me, and he will execute all my orders."

and in the discharge of his mission, he said, "who do you think I am? I am not the Messias. but there comes another after me, whose shoes I am not worthy to untie."

It is to you, my brethren, who are the children of Abraham, and to all who fear God among you, that this salutary news is sent.

as for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and their senators, by their not knowing who he was, and by condemning him, they have accomplished the declarations of the prophets, which are read every sabbath-day:

and for many days he was seen by those, who had accompany'd him from Galilee to Jerusalem: and they are now his witnesses to the people.

to you therefore we declare, that the promise which God had made to the fathers, he has now perform'd to us, who are their children, by his having raised up Jesus again.