When they reached Jerusalem, they went to the upstairs room, where they were staying. There were there Peter, John, James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.

About this time, at a meeting of the Brethren, when there were about a hundred and twenty present, Peter rose to speak.

"For in the Book of Psalms," Peter continued, "it is said-- 'Let his dwelling become desolate, and let no one live in it'; and also--'His office let another take.'

Then Peter, surrounded by the eleven other Apostles, stood up, and, raising his voice, addressed the crowd. "Men of Judea," he began, "and all you who are staying in Jerusalem, let me tell you what this means. Mark well my words.

When the people heard this, they were conscience-smitten, and said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles: "Brothers, what can we do?"

"Repent," answered Peter, "and be baptized every one of you in the Faith of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

With many other words Peter enforced his teaching, while the burden of his exhortations was--"Save yourselves from the perverse spirit of this age."

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.

Seeing Peter and John on the point of entering, he asked them to give him something.

Peter fixed his eyes on him, and so did John, and then Peter said: "Look at us."

But Peter added: "I have no gold or silver, but I give you what I have. In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth I bid you walk."

Grasping the lame man by the right hand, Peter lifted him up. Instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong,

While the man still clung to Peter and John, the people all quickly gathered round them in the Colonnade named after Solomon, in the greatest astonishment.

On seeing this, Peter said to the people: "Men of Israel, why are you surprised at this? and why do you stare at us, as though we, by any power or piety of our own, had enabled this man to walk?

While Peter and John were still speaking to the people, the Chief Priest, with the Officer in charge at the Temple and the Sadducees, came up to them,

They had Peter and John brought before them, and questioned them. "By what power," they asked, "Or in whose name have men like you done this thing?"

On this, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke as follows: "Leaders of the people and Councillors,

When the Council saw how boldly Peter and John spoke, and found that they were uneducated men of humble station, they were surprised, and realized that they had been companions of Jesus.

But Peter and John replied: "Whether it is right, in the sight of God, to listen to you rather than to him--

"Ananias," Peter exclaimed, "how is it that Satan has so taken possession of your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit, and kept back a part of the money paid for the land?

"Is it true," Peter asked, addressing her, "that you sold your land for such a sum?" "Yes," she answered, "we did."

Then Peter said: "How did you come to agree to provoke the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The foot-steps of those who have buried your husband are at the door; and they will carry you out too."

Instantly Sapphira fell down at Peter's feet and expired. On coming in, the young men found her dead; so they carried her out and buried her by her husband's side.

The consequence was that people would bring out their sick even into the streets, and lay them on mattresses and mats, in the hope that, as Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on some one of them.

To this Peter and the Apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men.

When the Apostles at Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had welcomed God's Message, they sent Peter and John to them;

Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

"A curse upon you and upon your money," Peter exclaimed, "for thinking that God's free gift can be bought with gold!

Peter and John, having borne their testimony and delivered the Lord's Message, returned to Jerusalem, telling the Good News, as they went, in many Samaritan villages.

Peter, while traveling from place to place throughout the country, went down to visit the People of Christ living at Lydda.

"Aeneas," Peter said to him, "Jesus Christ cures you. Get up, and make your bed." Aeneas got up at once;

Jaffa was near Lydda, and the disciples, having heard that Peter was at Lydda, sent two men with the request that he would come on to them without delay.

Peter returned with them at once. On his arrival, he was taken upstairs, and all the widows came round him in tears, showing the coats and other clothing which Dorcas had made while she was among them.

But Peter sent everybody out of the room, and knelt down and prayed. Then, turning to the body, he said: "Tabitha! stand up." She opened her eyes, and, seeing Peter, sat up.

Giving her his hand, Peter raised her up, and, calling in the widows and others of Christ's People, presented her to them alive.

And Peter stayed some days at Jaffa with a tanner named Simon.

And now, send messengers to Jaffa and fetch a man called Simon, who is also known as Peter.

On the next day, while these men were on their way, just as they were nearing the town, Peter went up on the housetop about mid-day to pray.

Then he was aware of a voice which said-- "Stand up, Peter, kill something, and eat."

"No, Lord, I cannot," answered Peter, "for I have never eaten anything 'defiled' and 'unclean'."

While Peter was still perplexed as to the meaning of the vision that he had seen, the men sent by Cornelius, having enquired the way to Simon's house, came up to the gate,

And called out and asked if the Simon, who was also known as Peter, was lodging there.

Peter was still pondering over the vision, when the Spirit said to him: "There are two men looking for you at this moment.

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

Upon this Peter invited them in and entertained them. The next day he lost no time in setting out with them, accompanied by some of the Brethren from Jaffa;

So, when Peter entered the city, Cornelius met him, and, throwing himself at Peter's feet, bowed to the ground.

Peter, however, lifted him up, saying as he did so: "Stand up, I am only a man like yourself."

Talking with him as he went, Peter entered the house, where he found a large gathering of people, to whom he said:

Therefore send to Jaffa, and invite the Simon, who is also known as Peter, to come here. He is lodging in the house of Simon the tanner, near the sea.'

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

Before Peter had finished saying these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who were listening to the Message.

Those converts from Judaism, who had come with Peter, were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been bestowed even upon the Gentiles;

For they heard them speaking with 'tongues' and extolling God. At this Peter asked:

But, when Peter went up to Jerusalem, those who were converts from Judaism began to attack him,

So Peter began to relate the facts to them as they had occurred.

And I also heard a voice saying to me-- 'Stand up, Peter, kill something and eat.'

He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and how the angel had said to him--'Send to Jaffa and fetch the Simon, who is also known as Peter;

I had but just begun to speak," continued Peter, "when the Holy Spirit fell on them, exactly as on us at the first;

And, when he saw that the Jews were pleased with this, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. (This was during the Festival of the Unleavened Bread.)

After seizing Peter, Herod put him in prison, and entrusted him to the keeping of four Guards of four soldiers each, intending, after the Passover, to bring him up before the people.

So Peter was kept in prison, but meanwhile the prayers of the Church were being earnestly offered to God on his behalf.

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.

Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. The angel struck Peter on the side, and roused him with the words: "Get up quickly."

The chains dropped from his wrists, and then the angel said: "Put on your girdle and sandals." When Peter had done so, the angel added: "Throw your cloak round you and follow me."

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.

Then Peter came to himself and said: "Now I know beyond all doubt that the Lord has sent his angel, and has rescued me from Herod's hands and from all that the Jewish people have been expecting."

She recognized Peter's voice, but in her joy left the gate unopened, and ran in, and told them that Peter was standing outside.

Meanwhile Peter went on knocking, and, when they opened the gate and saw him, they were amazed.

Peter signed to them with his hand to be silent, and then told them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison, adding: "Tell James and the Brethren all this." Then he left the house, and went away to another place.

In the morning there was a great stir among the soldiers-- what could have become of Peter!

After much discussion, Peter rose and said: "You, my Brothers, know well that long ago God singled me out--that through my lips the Gentiles should hear the Message of the Good News, and become believers in Christ.

The Governor of the Jail told Paul of his instructions. "The Magistrates have sent an order for your discharge," he said, "so you had better leave the place at once and go quietly away."

These Jews of Beroea were better disposed than those in Thessalonica, for they welcomed the Message with great readiness, and daily examined the Scriptures to see if what was said was true.

When we had torn ourselves away and had set sail, we ran before the wind to Cos; the next day we came to Rhodes, and from there to Patara,