I produced the former account, O Theophilus, about all {that} Jesus began to do and to teach,

But he said to them, "It is not for you to know [the] times or seasons that the Father has set by his own authority.

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain that is called Olive Grove which is near Jerusalem, {a Sabbath day's journey away}.

"Men [and] brothers, it was necessary [that] the scripture be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit proclaimed beforehand through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus,

And it became known to all who live in Jerusalem, so that that field was called in their own language "Akeldama," that is, "Field of Blood.")

And it will be [that] everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.'

"Israelite men, listen to these words! Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, just as [you] yourselves know--

For David says with reference to him, 'I saw the Lord before me {continually}, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken.

"Men [and] brothers, it is possible to speak with confidence to you about the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us until this day.

Therefore, [because he] was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat {one of his descendants} on his throne,

[by] having foreseen [this], he spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he abandoned in Hades nor did his flesh experience decay.

Therefore, having been exalted to the right hand of God and having received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he has poured out this that you see and hear.

Therefore let all the house of Israel know beyond a doubt, that God has made him both Lord and Christ--this Jesus whom you crucified!"

So those who accepted his message were baptized, and on that day about three thousand souls were added.

And they began selling [their] possessions and property, and distributing these [things] to all, to the degree that anyone had need.

And a certain man was being carried who was lame {from birth}. {He} was placed every day at the gate of the temple called "Beautiful," [so that he] could ask for charitable gifts from those who were going into the temple [courts].

And they recognized him, that this one was the one who used to sit [asking] for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with awe and astonishment at what had happened to him.

But you denied the Holy and Righteous One and demanded [that] a man--a murderer--be granted to you.

And on the basis of faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know, and the faith [that is] through him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.

And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also.

But [the things] which God foretold through the mouth of all the prophets, [that] his Christ would suffer, he has fulfilled in this way.

Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be blotted out,

so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and he may send the Christ appointed for you--Jesus,

Moses said, 'The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You will listen to him in everything that he says to you.

And it will be [that] every soul who does not listen to that prophet will be destroyed utterly from the people.'

You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God ordained with your fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your offspring all the nations of the earth will be blessed.'

And it happened that on the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes came together in Jerusalem,

let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead--by him this man stands before you healthy!

This one is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, that has become {the cornerstone}.

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among people by which we must be saved."

Now [when they] saw the boldness of Peter and John, and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were astonished, and recognized them, that they had been with Jesus.

saying, "What should we do with these men? For that a remarkable sign has taken place through them [is] evident to all those who live [in] Jerusalem, and we are not able to deny [it]!

But in order that it may not spread much [further] among the people, let us warn them to speak no more in this name {to anyone at all}."

For we are not able to refrain from speaking about [the things] that we have seen and heard."

And [when they] were released, they went to their own [people] and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.

to do all that your hand and plan had predestined to take place.

For there was not even anyone needy among them, because all those who were owners of plots of land or houses were selling [them] [and] bringing the proceeds of the things that were sold

sold a field that belonged to him [and] brought the money and placed [it] at the feet of the apostles.

But Peter said, "Ananias, for what [reason] has Satan filled your heart, [that] you lied to the Holy Spirit and kept back for yourself [some] of the proceeds of the piece of land?

[When it] remained to you, did it not remain [yours]? And [when it] was sold, was it at your disposal? How [is it] that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to people, but to God!"

And it happened that [there was] an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

So Peter [said] to her, "How [is it] that it was agreed by you [two] to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who buried your husband [are] at the door, and they will carry you out!"

so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and put [them] on cots and mats so that [when] Peter came by, at least [his] shadow would fall on some of them.

Now the high priest rose up and all those [who were] with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), [and] they were filled with jealousy.

After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and {caused people to follow him in revolt}. And that one perished, and all who followed him were scattered.

Every day, both in the temple [courts] and from house [to house], they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news [that] the Christ [was] Jesus.

So the twelve summoned the community of disciples [and] said, "It is not desirable [that] we neglect the word of God to serve tables.

For we have heard him saying that this Nazarene Jesus will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed down to us."

and said to him, 'Go out from your land and from your relatives and come to the land that I will show you.'

and the nation {that} they will serve as slaves, I will judge,' God said, 'and after these [things] they will come out and will worship me in this place.'

And they were brought back to Shechem and buried in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.

"But as the time of the promise that God had made to Abraham was drawing near, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt

This man deceitfully took advantage of our people [and] mistreated our ancestors, {causing them to abandon their infants} so that they would not be kept alive.

And he thought his brothers would understand that God was granting deliverance to them by his hand, but they did not understand.

And you took along the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of the god Rephan, the images that you made, to worship them, and I will deport you beyond Babylon!'

The tabernacle of the testimony {belonged} to our fathers in the wilderness, just as the one who spoke to Moses directed [him] to make it according to the design that he had seen,

and which, [after] receiving [it] in turn, our fathers brought in with Joshua {when they dispossessed the} nations that God drove out from the presence of our fathers, until the days of David,

And Saul was agreeing with his murder. Now there happened on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

And the crowds with one mind were paying attention to what was being said by Philip, [as] they heard [him] and saw the signs that he was performing.

And there was great joy in that city.

They were all paying attention to {him}, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is the power of God that is called 'Great.'"

And Simon himself also believed, and [after he] was baptized he was {keeping close company with} Philip. And [when he] saw the signs and great miracles that were taking place, he was astonished.

Now [when] the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,

who went down [and] prayed for them so that they would receive the Holy Spirit.

Now Simon, [when he] saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, offered them money,

saying, "Give to me also this power, so that whomever I place [my] hands on may receive the Holy Spirit!"

But Simon answered [and] said, "You pray to the Lord for me so that nothing of what you have said will come upon me."

Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Get up and go toward the south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." (This is a desert [road].)

Now the passage of scripture that he was reading aloud was this: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb before its shearer [is] silent, so he did not open his mouth.

[and] asked for letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, both men and women, he could bring [them] tied up to Jerusalem.

Now as [he] proceeded, it happened that [when] he approached Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.

and he has seen in a vision a man {named} Ananias coming in and placing hands on him so that he may regain [his] sight."

So Ananias departed and entered into the house, and placing [his] hands on him, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me so that you may regain [your] sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."

And all who heard [him] were amazed, and were saying, "Is this not the one who was wreaking havoc in Jerusalem [on] those who call upon this name, and had come here for this [reason], that he could bring them tied up to the chief priests?"

But Saul was increasing in strength even more, and was confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus [by] proving that this one is the Christ.

But their plot became known to Saul, and they were also watching the gates both day and night so that they could do away with him.

And [when he] arrived in Jerusalem, he was attempting to associate with the disciples, and they were all afraid of him, [because they] did not believe that he was a disciple.

But Barnabas took him [and] brought [him] to the apostles and related to them how he had seen the Lord on the road and that he had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus.

Now it happened that [as] Peter was traveling through all [the places], [he] also came down to the saints who lived [in] Lydda.

Now it happened that in those days [after] becoming sick, she died. And [after] washing [her], they placed her in an upstairs room.

And [because] Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, [when they] heard that Peter was in {Lydda}, sent two men to him, urging, "Do not delay to come to us!"

So Peter got up [and] accompanied them. [When he] arrived, they brought [him] up to the upstairs room, and all the widows came to him, weeping and showing [him] tunics and [other] clothing that Dorcas used to make [while she] was with them.

And it happened that [he] stayed many days in Joppa with a certain Simon, a tanner.

Now while Peter was greatly perplexed within himself [as to] what the vision that he had seen might be, behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having found the house of Simon by asking around, stood at the gate.

So it happened that when Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell at [his] feet, [and] worshiped [him].

And he said to them, "You know that it is forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or to approach a foreigner. And to me God has shown [that] I should call no man common or unclean.

Therefore I sent for you at once, and you {were kind enough to come}. So now we all are present before God to hear all the things that have been commanded to you by the Lord."

So Peter opened [his] mouth [and] said, "In truth I understand that God is not one who shows partiality,

[As for] the message that he sent to the sons of Israel, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ--this one is Lord of all--

you know the thing that happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism that John proclaimed:

And we [are] witnesses of all [the things] that he did both in the land of the Judeans and in Jerusalem, whom they also executed [by] hanging [him] on a tree.

God raised this one up on the third day and granted [that] he should become visible,

And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify solemnly that this one is the one appointed by God [as] judge of the living and of the dead.

To this one all the prophets testify, [that] through his name everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins."

And those believers from the circumcision who had accompanied Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles,

So he ordered [that] they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for several days.

Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had accepted the word of God.

Now those who had been scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, proclaiming the message to no one except Jews alone.

{And the report came to the attention} of the church that was in Jerusalem about them, and they sent out Barnabas as far as Antioch,

And [when he] found [him], he brought [him] to Antioch. And it happened to them also [that they] met together [for] a whole year with the church and taught a large number [of people]. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.