While they were still gazing up into the heavens, as he went, suddenly two men, clothed in white, stood beside them,

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.

When suddenly there came from the heavens a noise like that of a strong wind rushing by; it filled the whole house in which they were sitting.

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with strange 'tongues' as the Spirit prompted their utterances.

Now there were then staying in Jerusalem religious Jews from every country in the world;

They were utterly amazed, and kept asking in astonishment: "What! Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?

They were all utterly amazed and bewildered. "What does it mean?" they asked one another.

But there were some who said with a sneer: "They have had too much new wine."

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

So those who accepted his teaching were baptized, and about three thousand people joined the disciples on that day alone.

A deep impression was made upon every one, and many wonders and signs were done at the hands of the Apostles.

And the Lord daily added to their company those who were in the path of Salvation.

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.

And, when they recognized him as the man who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple, they were utterly astonished and amazed at what had happened to him.

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,

Much annoyed because they were teaching the people, and because, through Jesus, they were preaching the resurrection from the dead.

There were present Annas the High Priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all who were of High-Priestly rank.

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.

However, after further warnings, the Council set them at liberty, not seeing any safe way of punishing them, because of the people, for they were all praising God for what had occurred;

When their prayer was ended, the place in which they were assembled was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to tell God's Message fearlessly.

The whole body of those who had become believers in Christ were of one heart and mind. Not one of them claimed any of his goods as his own, but everything was held for the common use.

Nor was there any one in need among them, for all who were owners of land or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the sales

The whole Church and all who heard of these events were appalled.

But of the rest no one ventured to join them. On the other hand, the people were full of their praise,

And still larger numbers, both of men and women, as they became believers in the Lord, were added to their number.

Besides this, the inhabitants of the towns round Jerusalem flocked into the city, bringing with them their sick and those who were troubled by foul spirits; and they were cured every one.

When the Officer in charge at the Temple and the Chief Priests heard their story, they were perplexed about the Apostles and as to what all this would lead to.

Presently, however, some one came and told them, that the men whom they had put in prison were actually standing in the Temple Courts, teaching the people.

On this, the Officer went with his men and fetched the Apostles--without using violence, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people--

The members of the Council became frantic with rage on hearing this, and were for putting the Apostles to death.

After him, Judas the Galilean appeared at the time of the census, and induced people to follow him; Yet he, too, perished and all his followers were dispersed.

About this time, when the number of the disciples was constantly increasing, complaints were made by the Jews of foreign birth against the native Jews, that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.

But some members of the Synagogue known as that of Libertines, Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and Visitors from Cilicia and Roman Asia, were roused to action and began disputing with Stephen;

Yet they were quite unable to withstand the wisdom and the inspiration with which he spoke.

The eyes of all the members of the Council were riveted upon Stephen, and they saw his face looking like the face of an angel.

God's words were these--'Abraham's descendants shall live in a foreign country, where they will be enslaved and ill-treated for four hundred years.

And their bodies were removed to Shechem, and laid in the tomb which Abraham had bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.

The next day he again appeared upon the scene, when some of them were fighting, and tried to make peace between them. 'Men,' he said, 'you are brothers; how is it that you are ill-treating one another?'

Saul approved of his being put to death. On that very day a great persecution broke out against the Church which was in Jerusalem; and its members, with the exception of the Apostles, were all scattered over the districts of Judea and Samaria.

Now those who were scattered in different directions went from place to place proclaiming the Good News.

For there were many instances of people with foul spirits, where the spirits, with loud screams, came out of them;

And many who were paralyzed or lame were cured, so that there was great rejoicing throughout that city.

However, when they came to believe Philip, as he told them the Good News about the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Presently, as they were going along the road, they came to some water, and the Treasurer exclaimed: "Look! here is water; what is to prevent my being baptized?"

The men traveling with Saul were meanwhile standing speechless; they heard the sound of the voice, but saw no one.

When Saul got up from the ground, though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So his men led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus;

And, after he had taken food, he felt his strength return. Saul stayed for some days with the disciples who were at Damascus,

All who heard him were amazed. "Is not this," they asked, "the man who worked havoc in Jerusalem among those that invoke this Name, and who had also come here for the express purpose of having such persons put in chains and taken before the Chief Priests?"

On his arrival in Jerusalem, Saul attempted to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, as they did not believe that he was really a disciple.

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.

And saw that the heavens were open, and that something like a great sail was descending, let down by its four corners towards the earth.

In it were all kinds of quadrupeds, reptiles, and birds.

The story, I mean, of Jesus of Nazareth, and how God consecrated him his Christ by enduing him with the Holy Spirit and with power; and how he went about doing good and curing all who were under the power of the Devil, because God was with him.

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;

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

On the ground that he had visited people who were not circumcised, and had taken meals with them.

At that moment three men, who had been sent from Caesarea to see me, came up to the house in which we were.

Some of them, however, who were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, on coming to Antioch, addressed themselves also to the Jews of foreign birth, telling them the Good News about that Lord Jesus.

And, when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And so it came about that, for a whole year, they attended the meetings of the Church there, and taught a large number of people; and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called 'Christians.'

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.)

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.

As soon as he realized what had happened, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also known as Mark, where a number of people were gathered together, praying.

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

Among the members of the Church at Antioch there were several Prophets and Teachers--Barnabas, Simeon who was known by the name of 'Black', Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, foster-brother of Prince Herod, and Saul.

While they were engaged in the worship of the Lord and were fasting, the Holy Spirit said: "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul, for the work to which I have called them."

Barnabas and Saul, sent on this mission, as they were, by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia, and from there sailed to Cyprus.

As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the Synagogue, the people begged for a repetition of this teaching on the next Sabbath.

On hearing this, the Gentiles were glad and extolled God's Message; and all those who had been enrolled for Immortal Life became believers in Christ;

But the townspeople were divided, some siding with the Jews, some with the Apostles;

But certain persons came down from Judea, and began to teach the Brethren that, unless they were circumcised, in accordance with the custom enjoined by Moses, they could not be saved.

On their arrival at Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the Church, as well as by the Apostles and the Officers, and gave an account of all that God had helped them to do.

Some of the Pharisees' party, however, who had become believers in Christ, came forward and declared that they were bound to circumcise converts and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.

Why, then, do you now provoke God, by putting on the necks of these disciples a yoke which neither our ancestors nor we were able to bear?

It was then decided by the Apostles and the Officers, with the assent of the whole Church, to choose some of their number, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. Those chosen were Judas (called Barsabas) and Silas, who were leading men among the Brethren.

They were bearers of the following letter--'The Apostles, and the Brothers who are the Officers of the Church, send their greetings to the Brethren of Gentile birth in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia.

So the bearers of this letter were sent on their way, and went down to Antioch. There they called a meeting of all the brethren,

Judas and Silas, who were themselves Prophets, further encouraged the Brethren by many an address, and strengthened their faith.

After some stay, they were dismissed with kind farewells from the Brethren, and returned to those who had sent them.

They next went through the Phrygian district of Galatia, but were restrained by the Holy Spirit from delivering the Message in Roman Asia.

On the Sabbath we went outside the gate to the river-side, where we supposed there would be a Place of Prayer; and we sat down and talked to the women who were gathered there.

One day, as we were on our way to the Place of Prayer, we were met by a girl possessed by a divining spirit, who made large profits for her masters by fortune-telling.

About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and while the prisoners were listening to them,

Suddenly there was an earthquake of such violence that the Jail was shaken to its foundations; all the doors flew open, and all the prisoners' chains were loosened.

And that very hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds, and he himself and every one belonging to him were baptized without delay.

The police reported his words to the Magistrates, who, on hearing that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, were alarmed,

Some of the people were convinced, and threw in their lot with Paul and Silas, as did also a large body of Greeks who were accustomed to join in the Jewish services, and a great number of women belonging to the leading families.

On hearing this, the people and the City Magistrates were much concerned;

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.

There were, however, some men who joined him, and became believers in Christ. Among them were Dionysius, a member of the Court of Areopagus, a woman named Damaris, and several others.

Crispus, the President of the Synagogue, came to believe in the Lord, and so did all his household; and many of the Corinthians, as they listened to Paul, became believers in Christ and were baptized.

Just as Paul was on the point of speaking, Gallio said to the Jews: "Jews, if this were a case of misdemeanor or some serious crime, there would be some reason for my listening patiently to you;

On hearing this, they were baptized into the faith of the Lord Jesus,

There were about twelve of them in all.

An attempt was made by some itinerant Jews, who were exorcists, to use the Name of the Lord Jesus over those who had wicked spirits in them. "I adjure you," they would say, "by the Jesus, whom Paul preaches."

The seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish Chief Priest, were doing this;

This incident came to the knowledge of all the Jews and Greeks living at Ephesus; they were all awe-struck, and the Name of the Lord Jesus was held in the highest honor.

When they heard this, the men were greatly enraged, and began shouting--"Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"