"yet you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you are to be my witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the very ends of the earth."

"Repent," answered Peter, "and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

and they stedfastly continued in the teaching of the apostles, and in the fellowship, in the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers.

"There is no salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men, in which we must be saved."

When the day of Pentecost was fully come, and they were all together in the same place,

Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, and be shepherds of the church of God which he has purchased with his own blood.

The Jews of Berea were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they very readily received the message with all readiness of mind, and day after day searched the Scriptures to see whether these things were so.

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

"Believe on the Lord Jesus," they answered, "and you will be saved, you and all your household."

Then those who welcomed his message were baptized, and in that day about three thousand souls were added to them;

When he had said this, and while they were looking at him, he was lifted up, and a cloud received him up out of their sight.

On the first day of the week we met for the breaking of bread, and Paul, who was going away the next morning, began preaching to them, and prolonged his discourse until midnight.

and they said: "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing into the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken up from you into the sky will come back in just the same way as you have seen him going into the sky."

"Repent then! and reform, from the blotting out of your sins, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord;

"The times of ignorance God overlooked, but he now commands all men that they should all, everywhere, repent;

Now in these days while the number of the disciples was multiplying, the Grecian Jews began to murmur against the Hebrews, because their widows were habitually overlooked in the distribution of alms.

Then Peter began to speak. "Of a truth I begin to see quite plainly that God is no respecter of persons;

Now the brothers sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they got there they betook themselves to the Jewish synagogue.

My first account, O Theophilus, dealt with all that Jesus began doing and teaching from the beginning down to the day when,

"He has made of one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed seasons and the bounds of their habitation,

Meanwhile Saul, still breathing out threats of murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

"Men of Israel, listen to these words. Jesus the Nazarene, a man accredited to you by God, through mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him among you, as you yourselves know;

"Ananias," said Peter, "why has Satan so filled your heart that you are lying to the Holy Spirit, and keeping back part of the price of the land?

When they heard these words they were stung to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles. "Men and brothers, what shall we do?"

"In the last days, God says, it shall come to pass that I will pour out my Spirit upon all mankind; "Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams;

And once when he was eating with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father. "Of this," he said, "you have heard from me.

"how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how he went about everywhere doing good, and curing all who were oppressed by the devil; for God was with him.

Now there were in the church in Antioch prophets and teachers; Barnabas and Symeon, surnamed "the Black," Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, the foster-brother of Herod the Tetrarch, and Saul.

And an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise and go on your way south, along the road that runs down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert way."

But Peter and the apostles said in reply.

Now the multitude of the believers was of one heart and one soul, nor did any one of them say that any of his possessions was his own; but they had all things common.

So, when they came together, they began to ask him, "Master, are you at this time about to restore the kingdom of Israel?"

"Therefore let the whole House of Israel know assuredly that Gods has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you have crucified."

But a man named Ananias who, with his wife Sapphira, sold a farm of his,

"for in him we live and move and have our being; as certain even of your own poets have said, "'For we also are his offspring.'

But the younger men rose, wrapped the body up, and carried it out to bury it.

Now it happened that while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul, after passing through the hinterland, came to Ephesus, where he found a few disciples.

and brought them out, saying, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch, where for a whole year they were guests of the church, and taught many people. And it was in Antioch that the disciples first received the name of "Christians."

But some men came down from Judea and attempted to teach the brethren, saying, "Unless you are circumcised according to Moses' custom, you cannot be saved."

"'And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling upon his name.'

"The God who made the universe and all things in it, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands,

She used to follow after Paul and us, crying out again and again, "These men are servants of the most high God, who proclaimed to you the way of salvation."

After his sufferings he had also shown himself alive to them in many convincing manifestations, revealing himself to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God.

praising God, and looked on with favor by all the people. Meanwhile the Lord kept adding to them daily those that were being saved.

And all the believers were together, and had all things in common.

"In all things I have set you an example, how that so toiling, you ought to help the weak and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

Then Peter, with the Eleven, stood up and addresses them in a loud voice. "Men of Judea and dwellers in Jerusalem, have no doubt about this matter, but listen to what I say.

"For John indeed baptized in water, but you shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days hence."

And every one who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.

These all with one mind gave their constant attention to prayer, together with some women, and with Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

him, delivered up by the settled purpose and fore-knowledge of God, you crucified and killed at the hands of lawless men;

But I hold not my life of any account, as dear unto myself, if only I may run my race, and accomplish the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to attest the gospel of the grace of God.

Now as we were going to the place of prayer, a certain slave girl met us, who had a spirit of divination, and who brought her masters great gain by fortune-telling.

From Miletus he sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church to come to him;

While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell on all who were listening to the message.

Day after day they continued stedfastly with one accord in the Temple; and breaking bread together in their own homes, they continued to eat their food with gladness and an undivided heart,

And as they were going on their way they came to a certain water, and the eunuch said: "See, here is water! What hinders my being baptized?"

Everywhere they strengthened the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to hold to the faith. "It is through many tribulations," they said, "that we must enter into the kingdom of God."

"'so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, in order to receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'

One day Peter and John were going up together for the hour of prayer, at three in the afternoon,

Now there was at Caesarea a man named Cornelius, a captain in the Italian regiment.

They chose elders for them in every church, after prayer and fasting, and commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

inasmuch as he has fixed a day in which he will judge the world justly, by the Man whom he has ordained, and he has given proof of all this by raising him from the dead."

He answered. "It is not for you to know times and occasions which the Father has fixed in his own authority;

But when they believed Philip, who was preaching glad tidings about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they began to be baptized, both men and women.

With these words he fell asleep. And Saul fully approved of his murder. On this very day there broke out a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostle were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.

testifying both to Jews and Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

"And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace. He is able to build you up, and to give you your inheritance among all those who are consecrated.

And as they were worshiping the Lord, and fasting, the Holy Spirit said to them, "Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."

So Paul stood up in the center of Mars Hill, and said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that in all respects you are remarkably religious.

"For he was numbered among us, and he did get his allotted share of this ministry.

Many from all classes would give heed to him, declaring, "This man is the Power of God, known as the Great Power."

Then they went through Phrygia and Galatia, the Holy Spirit having forbidden them to proclaim the message in Asia.

On entering the city they went to the upper room where they were accustomed to meet. They were Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James, son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.

Among them was a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, who belonged to the town of Thyatira. She, since she was a worshiper of God, listened to us, and the Lord opened her heart to attend to what Paul said.

When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord, and all who had been ordained to eternal life, believed.

"To him all the prophets bear witness, testifying that through his name every one that believes on him will receive remission of sins."

It was during these days that Peter stood up among the brothers??he whole number of persons present was about one hundred and twenty??nd said:

I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come among you, and they will not spare the flock;

Then they laid hold of him and brought him up to Mars Hill, saying. "May we be told what this new teaching of yours is?

While Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred within him, when he noticed that the city was full of idols.

So he waited, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said:

On hearing this they held their peace and glorified God, saying, "Forsooth then, to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance unto life."

About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened;

"For the promise belongs to you and to your children and to all who are afar off, whomever the Lord may call."

While they were addressing the people the priests, the commander of the Temple, and the Sadducees came upon them,

In it were all kinds of quadrupeds and creeping things of the earth, and wild birds.

Since he is by the mighty hand of God exalted, and has received from his Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured forth this which you now see and hear.

Among the disciples at Joppa was a woman named Tabitha??hich may be translated Dorcas or "Gazelle"?? woman whose life was full of good works and almsgiving, which she was doing continually.

"Stiff-necked, uncircumcised in heart and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Ghost! As your fathers did, so do you.

The apostle at Jerusalem, when they heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, sent to them Peter and John.

"And the Spirit bade me accompany them without misgiving. There also accompanied me these six brothers, and we went into the man's house.

After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.

Now, at about that time, Herod the king put forth his hands to ill-treat certain members of the church;

Now when they beheld the glad fearlessness of Peter and John and had perceived that they were amazed; and they began to recognize them, that they were companions of Jesus.

"whom the heavens must receive until the time of restoration of all things. "God spoke of this ages ago, through the mouth of his holy prophets.

But at midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,

"So that the rest of men may seek after the Lord, Even all the Gentiles, who are called by my name,

"and having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there is to be a resurrection both of the just and the unjust.

So mightily the word of the Lord continued to grow and to prevail.

And Philip said, "If you believe with your whole heart, you may." The eunuch answered, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."

after giving instructions through the Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen, he was taken up to heaven.

Now when they had gone through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica. Here there was a Jewish synagogue,

And the word of the Lord continued to spread; and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem was increasing exceedingly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, about a Sabbath Day's journey distant.

"be it known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, in him does this man stand before you strong and well.

But he, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

and Paul, according to his usual custom, went in to them and, for three Sabbath Days, he reasoned with them out of the Scriptures,

Many signs and wonders continued to be wrought among the people by the hands of the apostles, and by common consent they all would meet in Solomon's Porch,

Now for some time a man named Simon had been practicing sorcery in that city, and had amazed the people of Samaria. He gave himself out to be some great person.

Then those who had been scattered by the trouble that arose over Stephen, traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch; but they preached the word to none except Jews.

When they had prayed, the place where they were gathered was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak the message of the Lord with boldness.

And he came also to Derbe and Lystra, where there was a certain disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewess, and of a Greek father.

Then Peter said, "Can any one refuse water for the baptism of these men who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?"

"But God was with him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him grace and wisdom, when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him Governor over Egypt, and over all the royal household.

Now the apostles and the brothers that were in Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God;

"Him God has exalted at his right hand as Prince and Saviour, to give Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins.

but God has raised him to life, having loosed the pangs of death, because it was not possible for death to hold him.

I never shrank from telling you the whole counsel of God.

"Go," answered the Lord, "this man is chosen instrument of mine to bear my name before the nations and their kings, and before the Children of Israel also;

But Peter and John said in reply. "Do you decide whether in the sight of God it is right to obey you rather than God;

"For it has seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

Then they made the men stand before them and demanded, "By what power, or in what name, have you fellows done this?"

Now a certain Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, a learned man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.

"So, brothers, find from among your own number seven men of good reputation who are full of the Spirit and of wisdom, and we will appoint them over this business.

Meanwhile Stephen, full of grace and power, wrought great wonders and signs among the people.

"Moses, for example, said: "The Lord your God will raise up a Prophet for you from among your brothers, as he raised up me; you must listen to whatever he may tell you;

"No, this is what the prophet Joel predicted.

and Peter said to her, "Tell me if you got so much for the land." "Yes," she said, "so much."

So those who were scattered abroad were going everywhere preaching the word.

Then they themselves, passing through from Perga, came to Antioch in Pisidia. Here they went into the synagogue on the Sabbath Day and sat down.

This Jesus God has raised up, of this we are all witnesses.

So they stoned Stephen while he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

Here a vision appeared to Paul in the night. There stood a man of Macedonia, entreating him and saying, "Come over into Macedonia and help us!"

"Men and brothers, I can speak plainly to you concerning the patriarch David, because he not only died and was buried, but his tomb is among us even to this very day.

"This fact became known to the people of Jerusalem so that the place was called in their language, Acheldamach, The Field of Blood.

"Be it known unto you therefore, brothers, that remission of sins is proclaimed to you through this man;

The next day, while they were still on their way and were approaching the town, about noon, Peter went up to the housetop to pray.

"For you are bringing certain strange things to our ears. We want to know, therefore, what these things mean."

"and that by him every one that believes is justified from all things from which you could never be justified by the law of Moses.

There appeared to them tongues, like flame, distributing themselves, one resting upon the head of each one,

"Men and brothers, it was necessary for the Scripture to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit uttered beforehand by the lips of David in regard to Judas who acted as guide to those who arrested Jesus.

And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let is go back and visit the brothers in every city in which we have proclaimed the word of the Lord. Let us see how they fare."

"And we are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him."

"Brothers, listen to me. Symeon has told how God first looked graciously upon the Gentiles, to take out from among them a people to be called by his name.

And when they heard it they all lifted up their voices in prayer to God, saying. "O Sovereign Lord, who madest heaven and earth and sea, and all that in them is,

While they were gazing into the sky as he was going up, suddenly there were two men in white garments standing by them,

"so that they might seek God, if perhaps they might feel after him and find him, though he is not far from every on of us;

This plan commended itself to the whole body, and they selected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch.

Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and began to preach Christ there.

"In this very city they did gather together against thy holy Servant, Jesus whom thou hast anointed??erod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and also the tribes of Israel??28 "to do all that thy power and thy will had predetermined should be done.

"Not so, my Lord," answered Peter, "for I have never yet eaten anything common and unclean."

"I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have, this I am going to give to you; in the name of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene, walk!"

Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, to select some of their number, and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. The men chosen were Judas called Bar-Sabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.

"This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness along with the angel who spoke to him in Mt. Sinai, and with our ancestors to whom he gave living words to hand down to us.

After deposing him, he raised up David to be their king, to whom he also bore witness, when he said, "I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, and who will obey all my will.

When he knocked at the door of the gate, a maid servant named Rhoda came to answer.

As soon as the apostles were released, they went to their friends, and told what the high priests and elders had said.

Now throughout the whole of Judea, Galilee, and Samaria the Church continued to enjoy peace and to be spiritually built up. It was increasing in members also, as it kept walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

"For thou wilt not leave my soul in Hades, Nor give up thy Holy One to see corruption.

"but that we should write to them to abstain from the pollution of idols and from fornication, from meat killed by strangling, and from blood.

And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were wrought by the apostles.

"But Jacob heard that there was food in Egypt, and sent our ancestors there on their first visit.

This aroused bitter indignation among the high priest and his followers who were of the sect of the Sadducees,

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

"You know that I never shrank from declaring to you anything that was profitable, nor from teaching you publicity and in your homes,

"Now this man bought a plot of ground with the price of his treachery, and falling there headlong he burst asunder and all his bowels gushed out.

And when they had failed to find Paul and Silas, they began to drag Jason and some of the brethren before the politarchs, shouting. "These fellows who have upset the habitable earth are come hither also.

They were giving heed to him because, for a long time, he had amazed them with his sorceries.

And as he journeyed, when he was approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed round him.

"I am a Jew," he said, "born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strict manner of the Law of our forefathers, ardent for God, even as you all are this day.

Stephen answered. "Listen, brothers and fathers. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran,

there came suddenly from the sky a sound like the onrush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

With many other words he continued to bear testimony, and kept entreating them, saying, "Save yourselves from this perverse generation."

but not for a single day did they desist from teaching and preaching in the Temple, and in private houses, the Gospel of Jesus, the Messiah.

"when he charged us to preach to the people, and to testify that this was he whom God ordained to be the judge of the living and of the dead.

The were beside themselves with wonder. "Are not these Galileans who are speaking?" they exclaimed.

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered them.

"Then he told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying. "'Send to Joppa and fetch Simon who is also called Peter.

"It is necessary then that, of the men who have been associated with us during the whole time in which the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

"Since then we are God's offspring, we ought not to imagine that the Godhead is like to gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and device of man.

Now there were, staying in Jerusalem. devout Jews from many and distant lands.

"Because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath that of the fruit of his loins he would set one on his throne,

"neither is he served by men's hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all life and breath and all things.

"You cannot but know the message which he sent to the descendants of Israel, when he preached the gospel of peace by Jesus Christ who is Lord of all;

God also wrought extraordinary miracles by the hand of Paul;

"But we will give ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word."

(Now all the Athenians and the strangers sojourning there spent their time in nothing else, but to tell or to hear some new thing.)

"We must obey God rather than man. The God of our fathers has raised up Jesus, whom you slew by hanging him on a tree.

Then Philip opened his lips, and beginning from that same scripture, he preached the gospel of Jesus to him.

"Men, why are you doing all this? We also are men, with natures like your own! We are bringing you good tidings, that you are to turn from these empty things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and the sea and all that in them is.

When they continued to shout, throwing their clothes into the air, and flinging dust around,

He is now praying, and has seen a man named Ananias enter and lay his hands on him to restore his sight."

"For as I was passing along and observing your objects of worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, 'TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.' What you are worshiping in ignorance, this I am proclaiming to you.

"he, foreseeing this, spoke of the resurrection of Christ that neither was he left in Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.

and yet he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness."

"For he is the Stone, cast aside by you builders, which has become the head stone of the corner.

"in this ministry of this apostles from which Judas went out to go to his own place."

And the high priest said, "Are these things so?"

"but I proceeded to preach, first to those in Damascus, and then in Jerusalem and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they must repent and turn to God and do deeds worthy of repentance.

"King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe."

"Why was it," said Peter, "that you both agreed to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Lo, the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and they shall carry you out."

"On their second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Pharaoh was informed of Joseph's parentage.

"On the contrary we believe that it is by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ that we and they shall be saved."

And Paul after remaining in Corinth some time longer, took leave of the brothers, and sailed away to Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. As Paul was under a vow, he had his head shaved at Cenchrea.

Now there was in Damascus a disciple named Ananias, and the Lord spoke to him in a vision, saying, "Ananias!" And he answered, "Lo, I am here, Lord."

And Crispus, the warden of the synagogue, believed on the Lord, with all his household; and many of the Corinthians from time to time listened, believed, and were baptized.

In this way Joseph, whom the apostles called Barnabas ("Son of Encouragement" is what it means), who was a native Cyprus,

Here he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife, Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome.

"And now Lord, listen to their threats, and grant to thy slaves to proclaim thy message with all boldness,

And so Ananias went and entered into the house, and laying his hands on him, said, "Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, who appeared to you on your journey, has sent me that you may receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit."

And when she recognized Peter's voice, for very joy she did not open the door, but ran in and told them that Peter was standing in front of the gate.

So, after he had thought things over, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, surnamed Mark, where a large number of people were assembled, praying.

Then the Twelve called the general body of the disciples together, and said to them. "It is not fitting for us to leave off preaching the Word of God, and minister at tables.

Then perceiving that half the Sanhedrin were Sadducees and the other half Pharisee, he cried out in the Sanhedrin. "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees! It is for the hope of the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial!"

"The God of Abram, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Servant Jesus, whom you betrayed and disowned before Pilate, when he had decided to let him go;

"Then there came a famine over the whole of Egypt and Canaan, and great distress, so that our ancestors could not find food.

For David did not ascend into heaven; but he himself said, "The Lord said to my Lord Sit thou on my right hand

"For about forty years he bore with them in the desert,

At that time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.

and after there had been a long discussion, Peter rose and said: "Brothers, you know how a good while ago God made choice among you, that from my lips the Gentiles were to hear the message of the gospel and believe.

"But this I confess to you, that I worship the God of our ancestors, according to the Way which they call a heresy, believing everything that is according to the Law, or is written in the Prophets,

Nor was there any one of them in want, for all who owned houses or lands would sell them and bring the price of the things that were sold, and lay it at the apostles' feet;

"The God of this people of Israel chose our forefathers and made this people great, while they sojourned in the land of Egypt. And with an uplifted arm he led them out of it.

On their arrival they assembled the church and reported all things that God had done through them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.

and after Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they began to speak with tongues, and to prophesy.

He fell to the ground, and heard a voice which said to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"

When they begged him to stay longer, he would not consent,

A voice came to him, saying, "Rise, Peter, kill and eat."

but were unable to withstand the wisdom and spirit with which he used to speak.

"Says the Lord, who has been making this known from the beginning of the world.

And great fear fell on all the church and upon all who had heard it.

"But, Lord," said Ananias, "I have heard from many about that man, and how much evil he did to the saints at Jerusalem!

"What then ought to be done? They will certainly hear that you are come.

except that in city after city the Holy Spirit is warning me that bonds and afflictions are awaiting me.

Instantly she fell down at his feet and expired, and when the young men came in they found her dead, and carried her out and buried her husband.

"Then Joseph sent and invited Jacob his father and all his family, numbering seventy-five souls, to come to him;

"Rulers and elders of the people, if we are being examined today concerning a benefit conferred upon a cripple, as to how has this man been cured,

Then they instigated some to say, "We have heard him speaking blasphemy against Moses and against God;" and in this way they excited the people.

He further ordered them to provide horses on which to mount Paul, so as to bring him safely to Felix, the governor.

Now while Peter was greatly perplexed to know what the vision which he had been sent by Cornelius, and had made inquiries for the house of Simon, stood at the gate,

Then taking his right hand he lifted him up. Instantly his feet and ankle-bones were strengthened;

He motioned to them to keep quiet, and told them how the Lord had brought him out of prison. "Tell all this to James," he said, "and to the brothers," and away he went to another place.

and leaping forth he stood on his feet, and began to walk, and went with them into the Temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

The elders and the scribes rushed upon him, and seized him, and brought him into the Sanhedrin.

All were astonished and bewildered and kept saying to one another, "What can this mean?"

This happened three times; and immediately the sail was drawn up into the sky.

"So do this that we tell you.

Who came down and prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit,

And after bringing them up into his house, he set food before them, overjoyed with all his household in having believed in God.

Then they brought them before the praetors, saying. "These fellows are Jews, who are making a great disturbance in our city.

So he sent two of his assistants, Timothy and Erastus, into Macedonia, while he himself kept back for a time on his way into Asia.

"In this city, too, he has authority from the chief priests to arrest all those who call upon thy name."

When all the people saw him walking and praising God,

When he finished speaking, the Jews departed, and reasoned among themselves.

Meanwhile Peter continued to knock, until at last they opened the door, and were amazed to see that it was really he.

"They are teaching customs which it is not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or practise."

the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, and examined under the lash, to learn for what reason the people were thus crying out against him.

"You are mad," they said. But she confidently insisted that it was so. "It is his angel," they said.

"for I am going to show him all he has to suffer for the sake of my name."

but said, as he took leave of them, "I will return again to you, if God will."

"Then they asked for a king, and he gave them Saul, the son of Kish, a Benjamite for forty years.

"So if God gave them the same gift as he gave to us, when we first believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?"

and recognized that this was the man who used to sit and beg at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple, they were filled with awe and amazement at what had happened to him.

He was hoping that Paul would give him money, and for this reason he used to send for him often to converse with him.

Even with saying this they with difficulty restrained the crowds from sacrificing to them.

"And afterwards he gave them Judges, until Samuel, the prophet.

and called and asked whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there.

The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.

Some of them, however, were Cyprians and Cyrenaeans, who, on reaching Antioch, began to tell the Greeks also the Good News concerning the Lord Jesus.

"and when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance for about four hundred and fifty years.

They also set up false witnesses who testified. "This fellow is continually talking against the Holy Place and against the law.

but none of the rest dared to associate with them.

"Three men are now looking for you. Rise, go down and go with them, nothing doubting; for it is I who have sent them."

"Now I have nothing very definite to tell our sovereign about him. So I have brought the man before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, in order that, after examination, I may have something to write.

Now Herod was violently displeased with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they came to him, with one accord, and after conciliating Blastus, the royal chamberlain, they begged for peace because their country depended upon the king's country for its food supply.

They took with them the following letter. "The apostles and older brothers send greeting to the Gentile Brotherhood throughout Antioch and Syria and Cilicia;

When morning came there was no small stir among the soldiers as to what could possibly have become of Peter.

Then Herod had search made for him, and could not find him. After sharply questioning the guards, he ordered them off to execution. He then went down from Judea to Caesarea, where he stayed for some time.

He also wrote a letter in the following terms.

When news of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas as far as Antioch.

upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days, will I pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

On receiving so strict an order he cast them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

So on the appointed day, Herod put on his royal robes, and after taking his seat upon the throne, began to harangue them.

"Long or short," answered Paul, "my prayer to God is that not only you but all who are my hearers this day might become such as I am, save for these chains."

had many lashes inflicted upon them, and put them in prison, with a charge to the jailer to keep them safe.

In the sky above I will show marvels, And signs in the earth beneath; Blood and fire, and vapor of smoke.

"and Jacob went down into Egypt.

Afterward he took food and was strengthened. And he remained for some time with the disciples at Damascus.

"There he died, and our ancestors also, and they were carried across to Shechem, and laid in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.

But after two full years Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and because he wished to curry favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul still in prison.

The people of the towns near Jerusalem also continued to come in crowds, bringing their sick and those who were harried by unclean spirits, and all of them were healed.

But since they saw the man standing with them who had been healed, they had nothing to answer.

Then all who were sitting in the council at once fixed their eyes upon him, and saw his face like the face of an angel.

There was a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, and brought rich profit to his workmen.

"Of this man's descendants God has brought unto Israel, according to his promise, a Savior, Jesus;

But the word of God grew and multiplied;

"The voice of a god, and not of a man," the people kept shouting.

Then, fearing lest we should run ashore on the rocks, they threw out four anchors from the stern, and longed for day to come.

"For we have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs which were handed down to us by Moses."

"And John, when he was finishing his race, repeatedly asked the people. "'Who do you suppose that I am? I am not He. But behold there comes One after me, whose sandal I am not worthy to unfasten.'

"Therefore my heart is glad, my tongue exults, my very body also shall pitch its tent in hope.

So they bade them withdraw from the Sanhedrin, while they conferred together.

"men who have risked their very lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

for he was a good man, and full of faith and the Holy Spirit. And a great multitude was added to the Lord.

Then, setting sail from Ephesus, he landed at Caesarea; he went up to Jerusalem and saluted the church, and came down to Antioch.

"When he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and brought him up as her own son.

"but as the time drew near for the fulfilment of the promise which God made to Abraham, the people multiplied and increased in Egypt;

So the Spirit said to Peter, who was still pondering over the vision.

But on hearing of the resurrection of the dead, some began to mock; but others said, "We will hear you again on that subject."

"What," said they, "shall we do with these men? For it is well known throughout Jerusalem that a notable miracle has been performed by them, and we cannot deny it.

His hearers were all astonished, and began to say. "Is not this the very man who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called upon the Name? Did he not come hither for the express purpose of carrying them all in chains to the high priests?"

A few, however, attached themselves to him and believed, among whom was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and some others.

"We have four men here under a vow; associate yourself with them, purify yourself with them, and pay their expenses so that they may have their heads shaved; then every one will know that there is no truth in the rumors that they have heard about you; but that you yourself walk orderly obeying the law.

"But that the matter may spread no further among the people, let us threaten them not to speak to any one hereafter about this name."

when a man lame from his birth was carried along, who was wont to be laid each day near the gate of the Temple called the Beautiful Gate, to ask alms of those who were going into the Temple.

incensed at their teaching the people, and proclaiming, in the case of Jesus, the resurrection from the dead.

"Cornelius," they answered, "a captain, a devout man, and God-fearing, of whom the whole, Jewish nation speaks well, was instructed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house, and to listen to your message."

"In this time Moses was born, a divinely beautiful child, who was brought up for three months in his father's house.

"as we have heard that some of your number who went out from us have troubled you with words and upset your souls, without having received any such instruction from us;

his disciples took him by night, and let him down over the wall, lowering him in a basket.

and some of the Asiarchs, too, who were his friends, sent word to him repeatedly, entreating him not to venture into the theater.

"until there arose a king who knew not Joseph.

Thence they sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been commended to the grace of God, for the work which they had now completed.

The next day, as he wished to learn the real reason why the Jews accused Paul, he unbound him, and commanded the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin to come together, and brought Paul down, and placed him before them.

But when they had tied him up with the thongs, Paul said to the centurion who was standing near, "If a man is a Roman citizen, and uncondemned, is it lawful for you to scourge him?"

"Men of Israel, help! This is the man who goes everywhere preaching to everybody against the people, and the Law, and this place. And he has actually brought Gentiles even into the temple, and has desecrated the holy place."

And when many days were fulfilled the Jews made a plot to kill Saul;

So Paul and Silas came out of the prison, and went to Lydia's house; and after they had seen the brethren and encouraged them, they left Philippi.

So Peter went down to the men and said: "I am the man you are looking for. What is the reason of your coming?"

for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public argument, proving to them from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.

But an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors during the night, and let them out.

"For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor the utterances of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him.