While He was together with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “This,” He said, “is what you heard from Me;

For John baptised with water but ye shall be baptised with the holy ghost, and that within this few days."

So when they had come together, they asked Him, “Lord, are You restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”

Jesus replied, "You are not permitted to know the [specific] time or date [when this will happen]. For the Father has appointed it [to happen] when He determines [the right time].

After He had said this, He was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took Him out of their sight.

They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen Him going into heaven.”

And during this time Peter stood up to speak to a gathering of about one hundred twenty persons.

'Men, brethren, it behoved this Writing that it be fulfilled that beforehand the Holy Spirit spake through the mouth of David, concerning Judas, who became guide to those who took Jesus,

For he was one of our number and was allotted a share in this ministry.”

Now this man acquired a field with his unrighteous wages. He fell headfirst and burst open in the middle, and all his insides spilled out.

This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that in their own language that field is called Hakeldama (that is, Field of Blood).

For this reason, of the men who have been with us all the time, while the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

beginning when he was baptized by John until the day he was taken up from us. Therefore, someone like this must become a witness with us to his resurrection."

And they offered this prayer--"O Lord, who reads all hearts, show which of these two men you have chosen

to take the place in this apostolic service that Judas left to go to his own place.”

And when the day of Pentecost came [Note: This was a Jewish festival held fifty days following the Passover Festival. Lev. 23:15-21], they [i.e., the twelve apostles] were all gathered together in one place [i.e., their second story living quarters, 1:13 ?].

when suddenly there came from the sky a sound as of a strong rushing blast of wind. This filled the whole house where they were sitting;

When this sound occurred, a crowd came together and was confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language.

They were all astounded and perplexed, saying to one another, “What could this be?”

But Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them: “Men of Judah and all you residents of Jerusalem, let me explain this to you and pay attention to my words.

For these men [i.e., the twelve apostles] are not drunk as you suppose, since it is only nine o'clock in the morning. [Note: The use of Jewish time calculations are employed in this verse].

On the contrary, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

[In that day] the sun will become dark and the moon will [appear] as blood. [This will all happen] before the great and wonderful day when the Lord comes. [Note: Some view these last two verses as a reference to events occurring at the end of time. See Matt. 24:29-30].

“Men of Israel, listen to these words: This Jesus the Nazarene was a man pointed out to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among you through Him, just as you yourselves know.

this one, by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, being given out, having taken by lawless hands, having crucified -- ye did slay;

King David said this about Jesus [Psa. 16:8ff], 'I always see the Lord in front of me, He is at my right side for protection;

because of this was my heart cheered, and my tongue was glad, and yet -- my flesh also shall rest on hope,

because you [i.e., God] will not allow my soul [i.e., this is a reference to Jesus] to remain in Hades [i.e., the unseen place of the departed spirits], neither will you allow [the body of] your Holy One to decay.

“Brothers, I can confidently speak to you about the patriarch David: He is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

that, as he was a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn to him, to place the fruit of his loins upon his throne: foreseeing this,

Seeing this in advance, he spoke concerning the resurrection of the Messiah:

He was not left in Hades,
and His flesh did not experience decay.

“God has resurrected this Jesus. We are all witnesses of this.

at the right hand then of God having been exalted -- also the promise of the Holy Spirit having received from the Father -- he was shedding forth this, which now ye see and hear;

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah!”

When they heard this, they came under deep conviction and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: “Brothers, what must we do?”

For the promise [of forgiveness and the Holy Spirit] is being given to you [Jews] and to your descendants and [also] to all those who are far away [i.e., Gentiles. See Eph. 2:17]. [This promise is] to as many as [respond to] the Lord, our God's call [through the Gospel, See II Thess. 2:14]."

And with many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!”

Everyone [who saw this happen] was filled with awe at the many miracles and [supernatural] signs performed by the apostles.

This man used to be set down every day at the gate of the Temple called 'the Beautiful Gate,' to beg of those who went in.

This man, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked charity.

But Peter said, "Silver and gold {I do not possess}, but what I have, this I give to you--in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk!"

they were knowing him also that this it was who for a kindness was sitting at the Beautiful gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what hath happened to him.

And as this [former] crippled man stayed close beside Peter and John, all the people rushed toward them at "Solomon's Portico" [Note: This was a large covered area, with rows of columns, on the side of the Temple enclosure], completely astonished [at what had happened].

When Peter saw this, he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this? Or why do you stare at us, as though we had made him walk by our own power or godliness?

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our forefathers, has done this honor to his servant Jesus, whom you betrayed and disowned before Pilate, when he had decided to let him go.

You killed the source of life, whom God raised from the dead; we are witnesses of this.

By faith in His name, His name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. So the faith that comes through Him has given him this perfect health in front of all of you.

And now, my brothers, I am conscious that you did this, as did your rulers, without knowledge.

But what God predicted through the mouth of all the prophets—that His Messiah would suffer—He has fulfilled in this way.

And [also] that God may send Christ [to you], the One whom He has appointed for your [benefit]. This [is] Jesus,

who must be received into heaven until [God's appointed] times when everything will be restored [to its intended purpose]. God had spoken about this through the proclamations of His holy prophets of long ago.

Any soul that will not listen to this prophet shall be exterminated from the People;

Yes, and all the Prophets, from Samuel onwards--all who have spoken--have also announced the coming of this present time.

You [Jews] were the first ones to receive this blessing when God raised up [i.e., selected] His Servant [i.e., Jesus] and sent Him to turn all of you [away] from your sins."

As they were talking in this way to the people, the high priests, the commander of the Temple, and the Sadducees came up to them,

After they had Peter and John stand before them, they asked the question: “By what power or in what name have you done this?”

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

If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;

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 and whom God raised from the dead—by Him this man is standing here before you healthy.

This Jesus is

the stone rejected by you builders,
which has become the cornerstone.

And because they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against this.

However, so this does not spread any further among the people, let’s threaten them against speaking to anyone in this name again.”

for this sign of healing had been performed on a man over 40 years old.

When they heard this, they all raised their voices to God and said, “Master, You are the One who made the heaven, the earth, and the sea, and everything in them.

“For, in fact, in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed,

and laid them at the apostles’ feet. This was then distributed for each person’s basic needs.

In this way Joseph, whom the Apostles gave the name of Bar-nabas--signifying 'Son of Encouragement' --a Levite, a native of Cyprus,

and brought [only] a part of the selling price and gave it to the apostles; but the man and his wife had kept this a secret.

"Ananias," said Peter, "why has Satan taken possession of your heart, that you should try to deceive the Holy Spirit and dishonestly keep back part of the price paid you for this land?

Wasn’t it yours while you possessed it? And after it was sold, wasn’t it at your disposal? Why is it that you planned this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God!”

When Ananias heard this, he fell down and expired. (Great awe came over all who heard of it.)

“Tell me,” Peter asked her, “did you sell the field for this price?”

“Yes,” she said, “for that price.”

And the whole church and all who heard this were appalled.

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.

This aroused the high priest and all his supporters, the party of the Sadducees, and filled them with jealousy,

“Go and stand in the temple complex, and tell the people all about this life.”

In obedience to this, they entered the temple complex at daybreak and began to teach.

When the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin—the full Senate of the sons of Israel—and sent orders to the jail to have them brought.

but the officers who went there not finding them in the prison, returned, and made this report,

As the commander of the temple police and the chief priests heard these things, they were baffled about them, as to what could come of this.

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--

“Didn’t we strictly order you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to bring this man’s blood on us!”

But Peter and the apostles answered them, "We must obey God instead of [you] men [in this situation].

God exalted this man to His right hand as ruler and Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

And we are witness to the truth of this, and so is the Holy Spirit--the gift of God to those who obey him."

When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.

For before this there was Theudas, who said he was someone important, to whom about four hundred men gave their support: he was put to death, and his band was broken up and came to nothing.

After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and attracted a following. That man also perished, and all his partisans were scattered.

And now, I tell you, stay away from these men and leave them alone. For if this plan or this work is of men, it will be overthrown;

Then they went rejoicing from the presence of the sanhedrim, that for his name's sake, they had been counted worthy to suffer this injurious treatment.

Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food.

Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty.

this proposition pleased the whole assembly: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the holy spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch.

Then they secretly instigated some men to say, "We have heard this man speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God."

By this means they excited the people, the elders, and the scribes, and so they rushed upon him, seized him, and brought him before the council.

They also presented false witnesses who said, “This man does not stop speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law.

For we heard him say that Jesus, this Nazarene, will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”

“Is this true?” the high priest asked.

“Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. From there, after his father died, God had him move to this land you now live in.

But he gave him no inheritance in it, no, not a single square yard of ground. And yet He promised to bestow the land as a permanent possession on him and his posterity after him--and promised this at a time when Abraham was childless.

God spoke in this way:

His descendants would be strangers
in a foreign country,
and they would enslave
and oppress them 400 years.