And while in their company He charged them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father's promised gift. "This you have heard of," He said, "from me.

"It is not for you," He replied, "to know times or epochs which the Father has reserved within His own authority;

They were beside themselves with wonder, and exclaimed, "Are not all these speakers Galilaeans?

For this is not intoxication, as you suppose, it being only the third hour of the day.

But God has raised Him to life, having terminated the throes of death, for in fact it was not possible for Him to be held fast by death.

For Thou wilt not leave me in the Unseen World forsaken, nor give up Thy holy One to undergo decay.

"As to the patriarch David, I need hardly remind you, brethren, that he died and was buried, and that we still have his tomb among us.

with prophetic foresight he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, to the effect that He was not left forsaken in the Unseen World, nor did His body undergo decay.

For David did not ascend into Heaven, but he says himself, "'The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand

And, in fact, there was not a needy man among them, for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the money which they realised,

While it remained unsold, was not the land your own? And when sold, was it not at your own disposal? How is it that you have cherished this design in your heart? It is not to men you have told this lie, but to God."

But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said,

But the officers went and could not find them in the prison. So they came back and brought word,

"We strictly forbad you to teach in that name--did we not?" he said. "And see, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and are trying to make us responsible for that man's death!"

His advice carried conviction. So they called the Apostles in, and--after flogging them--ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then let them go.

But they did not desist from teaching every day, in the Temple or in private houses, and telling the Good News about Jesus, the Christ.

So the Twelve called together the general body of the disciples and said, "It does not seem fitting that we Apostles should neglect the delivery of God's Message and minister at tables.

But he gave him no inheritance in it, no, not a single square yard of ground. And yet He promised to bestow the land as a permanent possession on him and his posterity after him--and promised this at a time when Abraham was childless.

And God declared that Abraham's posterity should for four hundred years make their home in a country not their own, and be reduced to slavery and be oppressed.

He adopted a crafty policy towards our race, and oppressed our forefathers, making them cast out their infants so that they might not be permitted to live.

He supposed his brethren to be aware that by him God was sending them deliverance; this, however, they did not understand.

"'I am the God of your forefathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob.' "Quaking with fear Moses did not dare gaze.

"Our forefathers, however, would not submit to him, but spurned his authority and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.

They said to Aaron, "'Make gods for us, to march in front of us; for as for this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.'

Yet the Most High does not dwell in buildings erected by men's hands. But, as the Prophet declares,

Did not My hand form this universe.'

Which of the Prophets did not your forefathers persecute? Yes, they killed those who announced beforehand the advent of the righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become--

you who received the Law given through angels, and yet have not obeyed it."

Then, rising on his knees, he cried aloud, "Lord, do not reckon this sin against them." And with these words he fell asleep.

for He had not as yet fallen upon any of them. They had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

No part or lot have you in this matter, for your heart is not right in God's sight.

The passage of Scripture which he was reading was this: "Like a sheep He was led to slaughter, and just as a lamb before its shearer is dumb so He opened not His mouth.

But no sooner had they come up out of the water than the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again. With a glad heart he resumed his journey;

Then he rose from the ground, but when he had opened his eyes, he could not see, and they led him by the arm and brought him to Damascus.

And for two days he remained without sight, and did not eat or drink anything.

and his hearers were all amazed, and began to ask one another, "Is not this the man who in Jerusalem tried to exterminate those who called upon that Name, and came here on purpose to carry them off in chains to the High Priests?"

but information of their intention was given to him. They even watched the gates, day and night, in order to murder him;

but his disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a hamper.

Again a second time a voice was heard which said, "What God has purified, you must not regard as unholy."

not to all the people, but to witnesses--men previously chosen by God--namely, to us, who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.

"You went into the houses of men who are not Jews," they said, "and you ate with them."

"But a voice answered, speaking a second time from the sky, "'What God has purified, you must not regard as unholy.'

Now when Herod was on the point of taking him out of prison, that very night Peter was asleep between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards were on duty outside the door.

So Peter went out, following him, yet could not believe that what the angel was doing was real, but supposed that he saw a vision.

and recognizing Peter's voice, for very joy she did not open the door, but ran in and told them that Peter was standing there.

And when Herod had had him searched for and could not find him, after sharply questioning the guards he ordered them away to execution. He then went down from Judaea to Caesarea and remained there.

and the assembled people kept shouting, "It is the voice of a god, and not of a man!"

Instantly an angel of the Lord struck him, because he had not given the glory to God, and being eaten up by worms, he died.

But John, towards the end of his career, repeatedly asked the people, "'What do you suppose me to be? I am not the Christ. But there is One coming after me whose sandal I am not worthy to unfasten.'

Because in another Psalm also He says, 'Thou wilt not give up Thy Holy One to undergo decay.'

and in Him every believer is absolved from all offences, from which you could not be absolved under the Law of Moses.

and yet by His beneficence He has not left His existence unattested--His beneficence, I mean, in sending you rain from Heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and joyfulness."

while Paul deemed it undesirable to have as their companion one who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work.

When they reached the frontier of Mysia, they were about to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not permit this.

Here, one night, Paul saw a vision. There was a Macedonian who was standing, entreating him and saying, "Come over into Macedonia and help us."

They are Jews, and are teaching customs which we, as Romans, are not permitted to adopt or practise."

Then he took them, even at that time of night, washed their wounds, and he and all his household were immediately baptized;

Some of the people were won over, and attached themselves to Paul and Silas, including many God-fearing Greeks and not a few gentlewomen of high rank.

The brethren at once sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea, and they, on their arrival, went to the synagogue of the Jews.

As the result many of them became believers, and so did not a few of the Greeks--gentlewomen of good position, and men.

GOD who made the universe and everything in it--He, being Lord of Heaven and earth, does not dwell in sanctuaries built by men.

that they might seek God, if perhaps they could grope for Him and find Him. Yes, though He is not far from any one of us.

Since then we are God's offspring, we ought not to imagine that His nature resembles gold or silver or marble, or anything sculptured by the art and inventive faculty of man.

But upon their opposing him with abusive language, he shook his clothes by way of protest, and said to them, "Your ruin will be upon your own heads. I am not responsible: in future I will go among the Gentiles."

And, in a vision by night, the Lord said to Paul, "Dismiss your fears: go on speaking, and do not give up.

Then the people all set upon Sosthenes, the Warden of the synagogue, and beat him severely in front of the court. Gallio did not concern himself in the least about this.

When they asked him to remain longer he did not consent,

"Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you first believed?" he asked them. "No," they replied, "we did not even hear that there is a Holy Spirit."

and not a few of those who had practised magical arts brought their books together and burnt them in the presence of all. The total value was reckoned and found to be 50,000 silver coins.

and you see and hear that, not in Ephesus only but throughout almost the whole province of Asia, this fellow Paul has led away a vast number of people by inducing them to believe that they are not gods at all that are made by men's hands.

There is danger, therefore, not only that this our trade will become of no account, but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana will fall into utter disrepute, and that before long she will be actually deposed from her majestic rank--she who is now worshipped by the whole province of Asia; nay, by the whole world."

Then Paul would have liked to go in and address the people, but the disciples would not let him do so.

A few of the public officials, too, who were friendly to him, sent repeated messages entreating him not to venture into the Theatre.

These facts, then, being unquestioned, it becomes you to maintain your self-control and not act recklessly.

Paul, however, went down, threw himself upon him, and folding him in his arms said, "Do not be alarmed; his life is still in him."

For Paul's plan was to sail past Ephesus, so as not to spend much time in the province of Asia; since he was very desirous of being in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of the Harvest Festival.

"And now, impelled by a sense of duty, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there,

Therefore I protest to you to-day that I am not responsible for the ruin of any one of you.

For I have not shrunk from declaring to you God's whole truth.

I know that, when I am gone, cruel wolves will come among you and will not spare the flock;

Therefore be on the alert; and remember that, night and day, for three years, I never ceased admonishing every one, even with tears.

Having searched for the disciples and found them, we stayed at Tyre for seven days; and, taught by the Spirit, they repeatedly urged Paul not to proceed to Jerusalem.

As soon as we heard these words, both we and the brethren at Caesarea entreated Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.

His reply was, "What can you mean by thus breaking my heart with your grief? Why, as for me, I am ready not only to go to Jerusalem and be put in chains, but even to die there for the sake of the Lord Jesus."

So when he was not to be dissuaded, we ceased remonstrating with him and said, "The Lord's will be done!"

"Are you not the Egyptian who some years ago excited the riot of the 4,000 cut-throats, and led them out into the Desert?"

"But on my way, when I was now not far from Damascus, about noon a sudden blaze of light from Heaven shone round me.

"Now the men who were with me, though they saw the light, did not hear the words of Him who spoke to me.

"And as I could not see because the light had been so dazzling, those who were with me had to lead me by the arm, and so I came to Damascus.

I saw Jesus, and He said to me, "'Make haste and leave Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me.'

Until they heard this last statement the people listened to Paul, but now with a roar of disapproval they cried out, "Away with such a fellow from the earth! He ought not to be allowed to live."

"I did not know, brethren," replied Paul, "that he was the High Priest; for it is written, 'Thou shalt not speak evil of a ruler of Thy people.'"

The following night the Lord came and stood at Paul's side, and said, "Be of good courage, for as you have borne faithful witness about me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in Rome."

Now, when daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and solemnly swore not to eat or drink till they had killed Paul.

I beg you not to comply; for more than forty men among them are lying in wait for him, who have solemnly vowed that they will neither eat nor drink till they have assassinated him; and even now they are ready, in anticipation of receiving that promise of you."

So the Tribune sent the youth home, cautioning him. "Do not let any one know that you have given me this information," he said.

Then, calling to him two of the Captains, he gave his orders. "Get ready two hundred men," he said, "to march to Caesarea, with seventy cavalry and two hundred light infantry, starting at nine o'clock to-night."

So, in obedience to their orders, the soldiers took Paul and brought him by night as far as Antipatris.

But--not to detain you too long--I beg you in your forbearance to listen to a brief statement from us.

For you have it in your power to ascertain that it is not more than twelve days ago that I went up to worship in Jerusalem;