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

"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."

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.

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

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."

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.

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:

"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.

"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,

and they prayed, saying. "Thou, O Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show clearly which of these two men thou hast chosen to fill the place

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

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.

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

we all hear these men telling in our own tongue what great things God has done."

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

"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;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

They would sell their lands and other property, and distribute the proceeds among all, just as any one from time had need.

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

When all the people saw him walking and praising God,

While he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people crowded awe-struck around them, in what was known as Solomon's Portico.

"And his name, on the ground of faith in his name, has made strong this man, whom you now see and know; yes, the faith that is through him has made this man sound and strong again, in the presence of you all.

"But God has thus fulfilled what he foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer.

"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.

"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;

"and it shall be that every soul who will not listen to that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.

"Yes, and all the prophets from Samuel and his successors, all that have spoken, have also told of those days.

"You are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, "And in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

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

and Annas, the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all the members of the high priests family were present.

"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.

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

"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.

So they summoned them, and ordered them not to speak at all, nor to teach in the name of Jesus.

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,

"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.

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

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.

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.

And the apostles continued with great power to give their witness concerning the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

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;

"While it remained unsold, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was not the price at your own disposal? How could you conceive this act in your heart? You have not lied unto men, but unto God."

As Ananias heard these words he fell down and expired, and all who heard were awe-struck.

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

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,

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.

He said to them, "Go take your stand in the Temple, and continue to tell the people all the words of this Life."

When they heard this they went at early dawn to the Temple, and began to teach. Meantime when the high priest and his followers arrived, they summoned the Sanhedrin and all the Council of the Elders of the sons of Israel, and sent to the prison to fetch the apostles.

but Gamaliel, a Pharisee, a teacher of the law, and held in honor by all the people, rose from his seat, and ordered the apostles to be put outside for a little while.

"Years ago Theudas arose, claiming to be somebody, and was joined by about four hundred men. He was killed, and all of his followers dispersed and annihilated.

"After him Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some of the people after him. He also perished, and all his followers were scattered.

"And now, I say to you, hold aloof from these men. Let them alone; for if this scheme or work be of human origin it will come to nothing;

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.

"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.

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

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.

"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."

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.

and said to him, "Leave your country and your kindred, and come to whatever land I will show you.

"What God said was this. "'His offspring will sojourn in a foreign land where they will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years.

"'And the nation, whichever it is, that enslaves them I will judge, said God, 'and after ward they shall come out, and they shall worship me in this place.

"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.

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

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

"So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in his words and works.

"But the man who was ill-treating his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, "'Who made you a magistrate and ruler over us?

"Truly I have seen the oppression of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their groans, and am come down to rescue them; and now, come, I will send you into Egypt.

"It was this Moses who said to the Children of Israel, "God will raise up a Prophet for you from among your brothers, as he did me.

No, it was the Tabernacle of Moloch and the star-symbol of the god Rempha that you lifted up??he images which you made in order to worship them; so I will carry you away beyond Babylon.

"The heaven is my throne, And the earth the footstool of my feet; What kind of house will you build for me? saith the Lord. Or what resting-place shall I have?

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

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.

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

In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who will declare his posterity? For his life is cut off from the earth.

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."

Philip found himself at Ashdod. Then visiting town after town, he kept preaching the good news in all the cities until he reached Caesarea.

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

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

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?"

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

So he came to Jerusalem, and attempted to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, because they did not believe that he was a disciple.

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.

At once he rose to his feet. All the people of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

She, as it happened, was taken ill just at that time, and died. After washing her body, they laid it in an upper room.

So Peter arose and went with them. On his arrival they took him up-stairs, and all the widows stood near him, weeping, and showing him the cloaks and garments which Dorcas used to make, while she was still with them.

But Peter put them all out, and kneeled down, and prayed; and then turning to the body, he said, "Tabitha, rise!" She opened her eyes, and on seeing Peter she sat up.

He was a devout man and God-fearing, and so were all his household. He gave many alms to the people, and constantly prayed to God.

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.

He had become very hungry and longed for food; but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance.

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

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,

"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."

and the day after that they reached Caesarea. There Cornelius was waiting for them, and had brought together all his relatives and intimate friends.

"So I sent for you without delay, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God, to listen to what the Lord has commanded you to speak."