Truly the first word had I made of all things, O Theophilus, of which Jesus began to do and also to teach,

Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

to whom also he presented himself living, after he had suffered, with many proofs; being seen by them during forty days, and speaking of the things which concern the kingdom of God;

While being together and eating with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Of which,” He said, “you have heard Me speak.

For [Jesus had said, Matt. 3:11], "John immersed you [men] in water but [this time] you will be immersed in the Holy Spirit, and [it will happen] in just a few more days."

So [when] they had come together, they began asking him, saying, "Lord, [is it] at this time you are restoring the kingdom to Israel?"

And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

And, while they were looking steadfastly into heaven as he was going his way, then lo! two men had taken their stand beside them, in white garments, -

When they had entered the city, they went upstairs to the upper room where they were staying [indefinitely]; that is, Peter, and John and [his brother] James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew (Nathanael) and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas (Thaddaeus) the son of James.

“Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit through the mouth of David spoke in advance about Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.

For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.

(Now this man, with the reward of his evil-doing, got for himself a field, and falling head first, came to a sudden and violent end there.

And they appointed two, Joseph, who was called Barsabas, who had been surnamed Justus, and Matthias.

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place,

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as it had been the coming of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they sat.

and they saw tongues of what looked like fire distributing themselves over the assembly, and on the head of each person a tongue alighted.

When the report of this had gone abroad, the multitude came together; and they were perplexed, for each one heard them speak in his own language.

But there were some who said with a sneer: "They have had too much new wine."

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and spoke forth to them, Men of Judaea, and all ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give heed to my words:

Men of Israel, give ear to these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man who had the approval of God, as was made clear to you by the great works and signs and wonders which God did by him among you, as you yourselves have knowledge,

But you, by the fixed purpose and intention of God, handed him over to wicked men, and had him crucified.

Indeed it was to him that David was referring when he said-- 'I have had the Lord ever before my eyes, For he stands at my right hand, that I should not be disquieted.

Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;

And referred to the resurrection of the Christ when he said that 'he had not been abandoned to the Place of Death, nor had his body undergone corruption.'

So he has been exalted to God's right hand, and has received from his Father and poured over us the holy Spirit that had been promised, as you see and hear.

When the crowd that had gathered heard this, they were pierced to the heart. They asked Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?"

Those then who had accepted his word were baptised; and there were added in that day about three thousand souls.

And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

Giving praise to God, and having the approval of all the people; and every day the number of those who had salvation was increased by the Lord.

One day, as Peter and John were going up into the Temple Courts for the three o'clock Prayers, a man, who had been lame from his birth, was being carried by.

some men were carrying there one who had been lame from birth, whom they were wont to place every day close to the Beautiful Gate (as it was called)

And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

And as this [former] crippled man stayed close beside Peter and John, all the people rushed toward them at "Solomon's Portico" [Note: This was a large covered area, with rows of columns, on the side of the Temple enclosure], completely astonished [at what had happened].

And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Servant Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied before the face of Pilate, when he had determined to release him.

Now I know, brothers, that you acted in ignorance, like your rulers ??18 though this was how God fulfilled what he had announced beforehand by the lips of all the prophets, namely the sufferings of his Christ.

But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.

So repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins] and return [to God—seek His purpose for your life], so that your sins may be wiped away [blotted out, completely erased], so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord [restoring you like a cool wind on a hot day];

And he may send forth him who had been fore-appointed for you - Christ Jesus:

who must be received into heaven until [God's appointed] times when everything will be restored [to its intended purpose]. God had spoken about this through the proclamations of His holy prophets of long ago.

Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your countrymen; you shall listen to Him and obey everything He tells you.

And it will be that every person that does not listen to and heed that Prophet will be utterly destroyed from among the people.’

Yes, and all the Prophets from Samuel onwards, and all their successors who had a message to deliver, told of these days.

God, [after he] had raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning each [of you] back from your wickedness!"

They were greatly disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people and announcing that Jesus had been resurrected from the dead.

They arrested the Apostles and, as it was already evening, had them placed in custody till the next day.

But many of those who had heard the word believed; and the number of the men had become about five thousand.

[They were]: Annas, the head priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all the head priest's family [members].

And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?

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

salvation is not to be had by any other: for there is no other name under heaven given to men whereby we can be saved.

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

And beholding the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to reply;

But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,

However, to keep things from going any further with the people, we had better threaten them that they are not to tell anyone in future about this Name."

And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge;

So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.

for the man on whom this sign of healing had taken place was above forty years old.

And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.

For they have assembled here in this city against your holy servant Jesus, whom you had consecrated??erod and Pontius Pilate, with the heathen and the peoples of Israel,

to do whatever thy hand and thy counsel had determined before should come to pass.

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

And no one among them was in need; for everyone who had land or houses, exchanging them for money, took the price of them,

And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

And Joseph, who had been surnamed Barnabas by the apostles (which is, being interpreted, Son of consolation), a Levite, Cyprian by birth,

sold a farm which he had, and brought the money and gave it to the Apostles.

But a man called Ananias, who with his wife Sapphira had sold some property,

and brought [only] a part of the selling price and gave it to the apostles; but the man and his wife had kept this a secret.

While you had it, was it not your property? and after you had given it in exchange, was it not still in your power? how has this purpose come into your mind? you have been false, not to men, but to God.

And it came to pass about three hours afterwards, that his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in.

Then great fear came on all the church and on all who had knowledge of these things.

But of the rest no man had the courage to unite himself with them: though the people extolled them.

And a great number of men and women had faith, and were joined to the Lord;

But the head priest and the Jewish sect of the Sadducees became very jealous,

Arrested the Apostles, and had them placed in custody.

Having received that command they went into the Temple, just before daybreak, and began to teach: So when the High Priest and his party came, and had called together the Sanhedrin as well as all the Elders of the descendants of Israel, they sent to the jail to fetch the Apostles.

Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.

Presently, however, some one came and told them, that the men whom they had put in prison were actually standing in the Temple Courts, teaching the people.

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,

The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had murdered by hanging Him on a tree.

But when these words came to their ears, they were cut to the heart, and had a mind to put them to death.

Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;

And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.

For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody [of importance], and a group of about four hundred men allied themselves with him. But he was killed, and all who followed him were scattered and came to nothing.

After him, rose up Judas the Galilaean, in the days of the enrolling, and drew a people into revolt after him; and, he, perished, and, all, as many as had trusted in him, were scattered.

but if it is of God, you can not bring it to an end: and take heed, lest you be found fighting also against God.

And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

So they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin rejoicing, because they had been considered worthy to be dishonored for the sake of the name.

And this saying was pleasing to all of them: and they made selection of Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor and Timon and Parmenas and Nicolas of Antioch, who had become a Jew:

Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

But some of those who were of the Synagogue named that of the Libertines, and some of the men of Cyrene and of Alexandria and those from Cilicia and Asia, had arguments with Stephen.

Then they induced some men to assert that they had heard Stephen saying blasphemous things against Moses, and against God;

They had false witnesses stand up and say, "This man never stops saying things against this Holy Place and against the Law.

And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

Then the head priest asked [Stephen], "Are these charges true?"

“Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. From there, after his father died, God had him move to this land you now live in.