After his sufferings he had shown them that he was alive by a number of proofs, revealing himself to them for forty days and discussing the affairs of God's Realm.

Then they made their way back to Jerusalem from the hill called 'The Olive-Orchard'; it is close to Jerusalem, only a sabbath day's journey from it.

With the money paid him for his crime he purchased an estate; but swelling up he burst in two, and all his bowels poured out ??19 a fact which became known to all the residents in Jerusalem, so that the estate got the name, in their language, of Akeldamach or The Ground of Blood.

So they brought forward two men, Joseph called Bar-Sabbas (surnamed Justus) and Matthias;

They saw tongues like flames distributing themselves, one resting on the head of each,

So when this sound was heard, the multitude gathered in bewilderment, for each heard them speaking in his own language.

But Peter stood up along with the eleven, and raising his voice he addressed them thus: "Men of Judaea and residents in Jerusalem, let everyone of you understand this ??attend to what I say:

No, this is what was predicted by the prophet Joel ??17 In the last days, saith God, then will I pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams:

this Jesus, betrayed in the predestined course of God's deliberate purpose, you got wicked men to nail to the cross and murder;

For David says of him, I saw the Lord before me evermore; lest I be shaken, he is at my right hand.

so he spoke with a prevision of the resurrection of the Christ, when he said that he was not forsaken in the grave nor did his flesh suffer decay.

Uplifted then by God's right hand, and receiving from the Father the long-promised holy Spirit, he has poured on us what you now see and hear.)

So let all the house of Israel understand beyond a doubt that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this very Jesus whom you have crucified."

So those who accepted what he said were baptized; about three thousand souls were brought in, that day.

When all the people saw him walking and praising God,

As he clung to Peter and John, all the people rushed awestruck to them in what was called Solomon's portico.

But when Peter saw this, he said to the people, "Men of Israel, why are you surprised at this? Why do you stare at us, as if we had made him walk by any power or piety of ours?

(He it is who has given strength to this man whom you see and know, by faith in His name; it is the faith He inspires which has made the man thus hale and whole before you all.)

Repent then, and turn to have your sins blotted out, so that a breathing-space may be vouchsafed you,

which was attended by the high priest Annas, by Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all the members of the high priest's family.

but as they saw the man who had been healed standing beside them, they could say nothing.

So they called the men in and ordered them not to speak or teach a single sentence about the Name of Jesus.

and on hearing this the entire company raised their cry to God, "O Sovereign Lord, thou art he who made heaven, earth, and sea, and all that in them is,

So now, O Lord, consider the threats of these men, and grant that thy servants may be perfectly fearless in speaking thy word,

At their prayer the place of meeting was shaken, and they were all filled with the holy Spirit, speaking God's word fearlessly;

laying the money before the feet of the apostles; it was then distributed according to each individual's need.

Peter said to her, "How could you arrange to put the Lord's Spirit to the proof? Listen, there are the footsteps of the men who have buried your husband! They are at the door, and they will carry you out as well."

In fact, invalids were actually carried into the streets and laid on beds and mattresses, so that, when Peter passed, his shadow at anyrate might fall on one or other of them.

"We strictly forbade you to teach about this Name, did we not? And here you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine! You want to make us responsible for this man's death!"

When they heard this, they were so furious that they determined to make away with the apostles.

So I advise you to-day to leave these men to themselves. Let them alone. If this project or enterprise springs from men, it will collapse;

So the twelve summoned the main body of the disciples and said: "It is not desirable that we should drop preaching the word of God and attend to meals.

Some of those who belonged to the so-called synagogue of the Libyans, the Cyrenians, and the Alexandrians, as well as to that of the Cilicians and Asiatics, started a dispute with Stephen,

They then instigated people to say, "We have heard him talking blasphemy against Moses and God."

They also brought forward false witnesses to say, "This fellow is never done talking against this holy Place and the Law!

Why, we have heard him say that Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this Place and change the customs handed down to us by Moses!"

Then all who were seated in the Sanhedrin fixed their eyes on him, and saw that his face shone like the face of an angel.

Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and stayed in Haran. From Haran God shifted him, after his father's death, to this land which you now inhabit.

God also gave him the covenant of circumcision. So Abraham became the father of Isaac, whom he circumcised on the eighth day, Isaac was the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.

Now a famine came over the whole of Egypt and Canaan, attended with great misery, so that our ancestors could not find provender.

at their second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Pharaoh was informed of Joseph's lineage.

It was at this period that Moses was born, a divinely beautiful child. For three months he was brought up in his father's house;

then he was exposed, but Pharaoh's daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son.

So Moses was educated in all the culture of the Egyptians; he was a strong man in speech and action.

He saw one of them being badly treated, so he defended him, struck down the Egyptian, and thus avenged the man who had been wronged.

When Moses saw this, he marvelled at the sight; and as he went up to look at it, the voice of the Lord said,

'I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob.' Moses was so terrified that he did not dare to look at the bush.

He it was who led them forth, performing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and in the desert during forty years.

So God turned from them, abandoning them to the worship of the starry Host ??as it is written in the book of the prophets, Did you offer me victims and sacrifices during the forty years in the desert, O house of Israel?

No, it was the tent of Moloch and the star-symbol of Rephan your god that you carried, figures that you manufactured for worship. So now I will transport you beyond Babylon!

It was passed on and borne in by our fathers as with Joshua they took possession of the territory of the nations whom God drove out before our fathers. So it remained down to the days of David.

Stiff-necked, uncircumcised in heart and ear, you are always resisting the holy Spirit! As with your fathers, so with you!

He, full of the holy Spirit, gazed up at heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at God's right hand.

"Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of man standing at God's right hand!"

So they stoned Stephen, who called on the Lord, saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!"

So there was great rejoicing in that town.

indeed Simon himself believed, and after his baptism kept close to Philip, utterly astonished to see the signs and striking miracles which were taking place.

Now Simon noticed that the holy Spirit was conferred by the laying on of the apostles' hands; so he brought them money,

saying, "Let me share this power too, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the holy Spirit."

So repent of this wickedness of yours, and ask God whether you cannot be forgiven for your heart's purpose.

For I see you are a bitter poison and a pack of evil."

So he got up and went on his way. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a high official of Candace the queen of the Ethiopians (he was her chief treasurer), who had come to Jerusalem for worship

Now the passage of scripture which he was reading was as follows: ??he was led like a sheep to be slaughtered, and as a lamb is dumb before the shearer, so he opens not his lips.

So the eunuch said to Philip, "Pray, who is the prophet speaking about? Is it himself or someone else?"

So he ordered the chariot to stop. Both of them stepped into the water, and Philip baptized the eunuch.

His fellow-travellers stood speechless, for they heard the voice but they could not see anyone.

Saul got up from the ground, but though his eyes were open he could see nothing; so they took his hand and led him to Damascus.

So Ananias went off and entered the house, laying his hands on him with these words, "Saul, my brother, I have been sent by the Lord, by Jesus who appeared to you on the road, to let you regain your sight and be filled with the holy Spirit."

Now, all over Judaea, Galilee, and Samaria, the church enjoyed peace; it was consolidated, inspired by reverence for the Lord and by its invocation of the holy Spirit, and so increased in numbers.

And all the inhabitants of Lydda and Saron saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they took him up to the room, where all the widows stood beside him crying as they showed him the garments and dresses that Dorcas used to make when she was with them.

About three o'clock in the afternoon he distinctly saw in a vision an angel of God entering and saying to him, "Cornelius."

he is staying with Simon a tanner, whose house stands by the sea."

He saw heaven open and a vessel coming down, like a huge sheet lowered by the four corners to the earth,

So the Spirit said to Peter, who was pondering over the vision, "There are three men looking for you!

They said, "Cornelius, a captain, a good man who reverences God and enjoys a good reputation among the whole Jewish nation, was instructed by a holy angel to send for you to his house and to listen to what you had to say."

So he invited them in and entertained them. Next day he was up and off with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa;

and so I have come without any demur when I was sent for. Now I want to know why you sent for me?"

You must send to Joppa and summon Simon who is surnamed Peter; he is staying in the house of Simon a tanner beside the sea.'

So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Well now, here we are all present before God to listen to what the Lord has commanded you to say."

Then Peter opened his lips and said, "I see quite plainly that God has no favourites,

So when Peter came up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party fell foul of him.

"I was in the town of Joppa at prayer," he said, "and in a trance I saw a vision ??a vessel coming down like a huge sheet lowered from heaven by the four corners. It came down to me,

The Spirit told me to have no hesitation in accompanying them; these six brothers went with me as well, and we entered the man's house.

On hearing this they desisted and glorified God, saying, "So God has actually allowed the Gentiles to repent and live!"

When he came and saw the grace of God he rejoiced, and encouraged them all to hold by the Lord with heartfelt purpose

So Barnabas went off to Tarsus to look for Saul,

So the disciples put aside money, as each of them was able to afford it, for a contribution to be sent to the brothers in Judaea.

and when he saw this pleased the Jews, he went on to seize Peter. (This was during the days of unleavened bread.)

So Peter was closely guarded in prison, while earnest prayer for him was offered to God by the church.

and the angel said to him, "Gird yourself and put on your sandals." He did so. Then said the angel, "Put on your coat and follow me."

And he followed him out, not realizing that what the angel did was real, but imagining that he saw a vision.

but as soon as she recognized Peter's voice, instead of opening the door she ran inside from sheer joy and announced that Peter was standing in front of the porch.

But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door they were amazed to see him.

Herod made inquiries for him but could not find him; so, after cross-examining the guards, he ordered them off to death. He then went down from Judaea to Caesarea, where he spent some time.

The populace shouted, "It is a god's voice, not a man's!"

and in a moment an angel of the Lord struck him, because he had not given due glory to God; he was eaten up by worms and so expired.

So Saul (who is also called Paul), filled with the holy Spirit, looked steadily at him

See here, the Lord's hand will fall on you, and you will be blind, unable for a time to see the sun." In a moment a dark mist fell upon him, and he groped about for someone to take him by the hand.

Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had happened; he was astounded at the doctrine of the Lord.