And once, when he had gathered them together, he charged them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the fulfillment of the Father's promise-- "that promise," he said, "of which you have heard me speak;

His answer was: "It is not for you to know times or hours, for the Father has reserved these for his own decision;

But you shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit shall have descended upon you, and shall be witnesses for me not only in Jerusalem, but throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

They were utterly amazed, and kept asking in astonishment: "What! Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?

These men are not drunk, as you suppose; for it is only now nine in the morning! No!

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.

For you wilt not abandon my soul to the Place of Death, nor surrender me, your holy one, to undergo corruption.

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.'

It was not David who went up into Heaven; for he himself says- -'The Lord said to my master: "Sit on my right hand,

And it shall be that should any one among the people not listen to that Prophet, he will be utterly destroyed.'

But, to prevent this thing from spreading further among the people, let us warn them not to speak in this Name any more to any one whatever."

So they called the Apostles in, and ordered them not to speak or teach in the Name of Jesus.

However, after further warnings, the Council set them at liberty, not seeing any safe way of punishing them, because of the people, for they were all praising God for what had occurred;

There have indeed gathered together in this city against your holy Servant Jesus, whom you has consecrated the Christ, not Herod and Pontius Pilate only, but the nations and the people of Israel besides--

The whole body of those who had become believers in Christ were of one heart and mind. Not one of them claimed any of his goods as his own, but everything was held for the common use.

Nor was there any one in need among them, for all who were owners of land or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the sales

While it was unsold, was not it your own? and after it was sold, was not the money at your own disposal? How did you come to think of such a thing? You have lied, not to men, but to God!"

After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

An angel of the Lord, however, opened the prison doors at night and led them out.

But, when the officers got there, they did not find them in the prison; so they returned and reported that,

While they had found the goal barred securely and the guards posted at the doors, yet, on opening them, they had not found any one inside.

"We gave you strict orders," he said, "not to teach in this Name. Yet you have actually flooded Jerusalem with your teaching, and you want to make us responsible for the death of this man."

For not long ago Theudas appeared, professing to be somebody, and was joined by a body of some four hundred men. But he was killed; and all his followers scattered and dwindled away.

And, in this present case, my advice to you is not to interfere with these men, but to let them alone, for, if their designs and their work are merely of human origin, they will come to an end;

The Council followed his advice, and, calling the Apostles in, had them flogged, and then, after cautioning them not to speak in the Name of Jesus, set them free.

The Twelve, therefore, called together the general body of the disciples and said to them: "It is not well for us to see to the distribution at the tables and neglect God's Message.

God did not at that time give him any part of it, not even a foot of ground. But he promised to 'give him possession of it and his descendants after him, though at that time he had no child.

This king acted deceitfully towards our race and ill-treated our ancestors, making them abandon their own infants, so that they should not be reared.

'I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.' Moses trembled, and did not dare to look.

While they said to Aaron--'Make us Gods who will lead the way for us, since, as for this Moses who has brought us out of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.'

Yet it is not in buildings made by hands that the Most High dwells. As the Prophet says--

Was it not my hand that made all these things?'

Falling on his knees, he called out loudly: "Lord! do not charge them with this sin;" and with these words he fell asleep.

(As yet the Spirit had not descended upon any of them; they had only been baptized into the Faith of the Lord Jesus).

You have no share or part in our Message, for your 'heart is not right with God.'

All who heard him were amazed. "Is not this," they asked, "the man who worked havoc in Jerusalem among those that invoke this Name, and who had also come here for the express purpose of having such persons put in chains and taken before the Chief Priests?"

But it became known to him. They even watched the gates day and night, to kill him;

But his disciples let him down by night through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.

On his arrival in Jerusalem, Saul attempted to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, as they did not believe that he was really a disciple.

Again he was aware of a voice which said-- "What God has pronounced 'clean', do not regard as 'defiled'."

Go down at once and do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them."

"You are doubtless aware that it is forbidden for a Jew to be intimate with a foreigner, or even to enter his house; and yet God has shown me that I ought not to call any man 'defiled' or 'unclean.'

Then Peter began. "I see, beyond all doubt," he said, "that 'God does not show partiality,'

Not indeed to every one, but to witnesses chosen beforehand by God--to us, who ate and drank with him after his resurrection from the dead.

On the ground that he had visited people who were not circumcised, and had taken meals with them.

Then a second time there came a voice from the heavens. "What God has pronounced 'clean'," it said, "you must not call 'defiled'."

Just when Herod was intending to bring him before the people, on that very night Peter was asleep between two soldiers, chained to them both, while there were sentries in front of the door, guarding the prison.

Peter followed him out, not knowing that what was happening under the angel's guidance was real, but thinking that he was seeing a vision.

The people kept shouting: "It is the voice of God, and not of a man!"

Instantly an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give God the glory; and he was attacked with worms, and died.

As John was drawing towards the end of his career, he said what do you suppose that I am? I am not the Christ. But there is "One Coming" after me, whose very sandal I am not worthy to untie.'

The people of Jerusalem and their leading men, failing to recognize Jesus, and not understanding the utterances of the Prophets that are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him.

And, therefore, in another Psalm it is said--'Thou wilt not give up the Holy One to undergo corruption.'

But Jesus, whom God raised from the dead, did not undergo corruption.

And that, in union with him, every one who believes in him is absolved from every sin from which under the Law of Moses you could not be absolved.

Beware, therefore, that what is said in the Prophets does not come true of you--

Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out fearlessly, and said: "It was necessary that the Message of God should be told to you first; but, since you reject it and reckon yourselves not worthy of the Immortal Life--we turn to the Gentiles!

Yet he has not failed to give you, in the good he does, some revelation of himself--sending you from heaven rain and fruitful seasons, and gladdening your hearts with plenty and good cheer."

But certain persons came down from Judea, and began to teach the Brethren that, unless they were circumcised, in accordance with the custom enjoined by Moses, they could not be saved.

In my judgment, therefore, we should not add to the difficulties of those Gentiles who are turning to God,

But Paul felt that they ought not to take with them the man who had deserted them in Pamphylia, and had not gone on with them to their work.

When they reached the borders of Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them.

And there one night Paul saw a vision. A Macedonian was standing and appealing to him--'Come over to Macedonia and help us.'

"They are Jews, and they are teaching customs which it is not right for us, as Romans, to sanction or adopt."

But Paul called our loudly: "Do not harm yourself; we are all here."

And that very hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds, and he himself and every one belonging to him were baptized without delay.

And, not finding them there, they proceeded to drag Jason and some of the Brethren before the City Magistrates, shouting out: "These men, who have turned the world upside down, have now come here,

That very night the Brethren sent Paul and Silas off to Beroea; and on reaching that place, they went to the Jewish Synagogue.

The God who made the world and all things that are in it-- he, Lord as he is of Heaven and Earth, does not dwell in temples made by hands,

That they might search for God, if by any means they might feel their way to him and find him. And yet he is not really far from any one of us;

Therefore, as the offspring of God, we must not think that the Deity has any resemblance to anything made of gold, or silver, or stone--a work of human art and imagination.

True, God looked with indulgence on the days of men's ignorance, but now he is announcing to every one everywhere the need for repentance,

One night the Lord said to Paul, in a vision: "Have no fear, but continue to speak, and refuse to be silenced;

But, since it is a dispute about words, and names, and your own Law, you must see to it yourselves. I do not choose to be a judge in such matters."

Then they all set upon Sosthenes, the President of the Synagogue, and beat him in front of the Bench, but Gallio did not trouble himself about any of these things.

Paul remained there some time after this, and then took leave of the Brethren, and sailed to Syria with Priscilla and Aquila, but not before his head had been shaved at Cenchreae, because he was under a vow.

"Did you, when you became believers in Christ, receive the Holy Spirit?" "No," they answered, "we did not even hear that there was a Holy Spirit."

And you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but in almost the whole of Roman Asia, this Paul has convinced and won over great numbers of people, by his assertion that those Gods which are made by hands are not Gods at all.

So that not only is this business of ours likely to fall into discredit, but there is the further danger that the Temple of the great Goddess Artemis will be thought nothing of, and that she herself will be deprived of her splendor--though all Roman Asia and the whole world worship her."

Paul wished to go into the amphitheater and face the people, but the disciples would not let him,

While some of the chief religious officials of the province, who were friendly to him, sent repeated entreaties to him not to trust himself inside.

Meanwhile some were shouting one thing and some another, for the Assembly was all in confusion, most of those present not even knowing why they had met.

But Paul went down, threw himself upon him, and put his arms round him. "Do not be alarmed," he said, "he is still alive."

And now, under spiritual constraint, I am here on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there,

For I have not shrunk from announcing the whole purpose of God regarding you.

I know that, after my departure, merciless wolves will get in among you, who will not spare the flock;

Therefore, be on your guard, remembering how for three years, night and day, I never ceased, even with tears, to warn each one of you.

You, yourselves, know that these hands of mine provided not only for my own wants, but for my companions also.

There we found the disciples and stayed a week with them. Speaking under the influence of the Spirit, they warned Paul not to set foot in Jerusalem.

When we heard that, we and the people of the place began to entreat Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.

It was then that Paul made the reply: "Why are you weeping and breaking my heart like this? For my part, I am ready not only to be bound, but even to suffer death at Jerusalem for the Name of the Lord Jesus."

So, as he would not be persuaded, we said no more to him, only adding--"The Lord's will be done."

Now they have heard it said about you, that you teach all Jews in foreign countries to forsake Moses, for you tell them not to circumcise their children or even to observe Jewish customs.

"Are not you, then, the Egyptian who some time ago raised an insurrection and led the four thousand Bandits out into the Wilderness?"

"No," said Paul, "I am a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of a city of some note; and I beg you to give me permission to speak to the people."

In my persecution of this Cause I did not stop even at the taking of life. I put in chains, and imprisoned, men and women alike--

The men with me saw the light, but did not hear the speaker's voice.

In consequence of that dazzling light I could not see, but my companions held me by the hand, till I reached Damascus.

And saw Jesus saying to me 'Make haste and leave Jerusalem at once, because they will not accept your testimony about me.'

Up to this point the people had been listening to Paul, but at these words they called out: "Kill him! A fellow like this ought not to have been allowed to live!"