till the day on which he was taken up, after he had, through the Holy Spirit, given commandments to the apostles whom he had chosen.

And when he had spoken these things, while they were looking on him, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight.

And in those days Peter arose in the midst of the disciples, (the number of the names together was about a hundred and twenty,) and said:

Brethren, it was necessary for this scripture to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit had before spoken by the mouth of David, concerning Judas, who was a guide to those who took Jesus:

for he was numbered with us, and had been appointed to this ministry.

And it was known to all that dwelt in Jerusalem, so that the field is called, in their own language, Akeldama, that is, The field of blood.

beginning from the immersion of John till the day on which he was taken up from us, must one be appointed as a witness with us of his resurrection.

And they set apart two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias;

And they gave in their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias: and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

But this is that which was spoken of by the prophet Joel:

whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held in subjection by it.

Brethren, I may say to you plainly of the patriarch David, that he died, and was buried, and his sepulcher is with us to this day.

foreseeing this, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that his soul was not left in hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.

Now Peter and John were going up. together into the temple at the hour of prayer, which was the ninth hour.

And a certain man, lame from his mother's womb, was carried along, whom they laid daily at that gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, that he might ask charity of those who were going into the temple.

and they recognized him, that it was he that had sat for charity at the Beautiful gate of the temple. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

And while he was holding to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch called Solomon s, greatly astonished.

The God of Abra ham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Son Jesus, whom you delivered up, and whom you rejected in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to release him.

and that he may send Jesus Christ, who was destined for you;

And they laid hands on them, and put them in prison till the next day, for it was already evening.

But many of those who heard the word, believed: and the number of the men was about five thousand.

This is the stone that was rejected with contempt by you builders, which has become the head of the corner.

for the man on whom this sign of healing had been performed was more than forty years old.

And when they had prayed, the place in which they were assembled was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke the word of God with boldness.

And the multitude of believers were of one heart and of one soul; and no one said that any part of his possessions was his own; but they had all things in common.

And with great power did the apostles bear testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on them all.

Nor, indeed, was there any needy person among them; for as many as were owners of lands or houses, sold them, and brought the prices of what had been sold,

and laid them down at the feet of the apostles; and distribution was made to every one as he had need.

And Joses, who, by the apostles, was surnamed Barnabas, (which name, when translated, is, Son of consolation,) a Levite, by birth a Cyprian,

and kept back part of the price, and his wife was conscious of it; and he brought a certain part of it, and laid it at the feet of the apostles.

While it remained unsold, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your own disposal? Why have you purposed this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God.

Then arose a certain man in the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people; and he commanded them to put the apostles out for a little while,

For before these days Theudas arose, declaring himself to be some great one; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves; and he was slain; and all, as many as believed him, were scattered and brought to naught.

After this man, Judas the Galilean arose, in the days of the enrollment, and drew over many people after him; and he was destroyed, and all, as many as believed him, were scattered.

And the word of God increased, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem was greatly multiplied; and a great multitude of the priests became obedient to the faith.

And all that sat in the Sanhedrin, looking earnestly upon him, saw his face that it was like the face of an angel.

He replied: Brethren and fathers, hear: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, while he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,

And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,

But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent forth our fathers the first time:

At which time Moses was born; and he was exceedingly beautiful, and was nursed three months in his father's house.

And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.

And seeing one of them unjustly treated, he defended and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian.

But he that was doing the injury to his neighbor, thrust him. away, saying, Who made you a ruler or a judge over us?

When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight, and as he was drawing near to observe it, the voice of the Lord came to him:

This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel that spoke to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers; he received the living oracles, that he might give them to us.

The tabernacle of the testimony was with our fathers in the wilderness, built as he who spoke to Moses commanded him to build it, according to the pattern which he had seen:

And they stoned Stephen while he was calling on the Lord, and saying: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

And he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice: Lord, let not this sin stand against them. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul was well pleased with his death.

And at that time there was a great persecution against the church that was in Jerusalem; and they were all dispersed throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

And there was great joy in that city.

But there was a certain man, named Simon, who had, be fore this time, been practicing magic in the city, and astonishing the people of Samaria, saying that he was some great one;

And Simon himself also believed; and after he was immersed, he continued with Philip; and, seeing the mighty deeds and the signs which were done, he was astonished.

And when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the hands of the apostles, he offered them money,

was returning, and, sitting in his chariot, read the prophet Isaiah.

The passage of the scripture which he was reading, was this: As a sheep for the slaughter was he led; and as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, so opened he not his mouth

in his humiliation. The sentence against him was taken away; but who shall describe the men of his generation? For his life was taken from the earth.

But Philip was found at Azotus, and, passing through, he preached the gospel in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea

And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Now there was a certain disciple in Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision: Ananias. He answered: Behold me, Lord.

And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he instantly received his sight; and he arose, and was immersed.

And, having taken food, he was strengthened. And he was with the disciples in Damascus for some days;

And their plot was made known to Saul; and they watched the gates day and night, that they might kill him.

And having come to Jerusalem, he attempted to associate with the disciples: and they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple.

And he was with them in Jerusalem, coming in and going out; and, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus,

And he found there a certain man named Aeneas, who was a paralytic, and had kept his bed for eight years.

Now there was in Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which name, when translated, is Dorcas. She was full of good works and deeds of charity which she did.

And it came to pass, in those days, that she was taken sick, and died. And when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.

And as Lydda was near to Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, requesting him to make no delay in coming to them.

Then Peter arose, and went with them; and when he had come, they brought him into the upper room; and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.

And it was known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord.

Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, named Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

And having looked steadily on him, he was afraid, and said: "What is it, Lord? He said to him: Your prayers and your charitable deeds have come up for a memorial before God.

This was done the third time; and the vessel was taken up again into heaven.

Now, while Peter was perplexed within himself about the meaning of the vision which he had seen, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius, having made inquiry for the house of Simon, stood before the gate.

And they called and asked whether Simon, who was surnamed Peter, lodged there.

While Peter was thinking of the vision, the Spirit said to him: Behold, three men ask for you:

They replied: Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that fears God, and of good report among the whole nation of the Jews, was instructed by a holy angel to call you to his house, and to hear words from you.

And on the next day, they entered Caesarea And Cornelius was expecting them, and had called together his relatives and near friends.

And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and did him homage.

For this reason, when I was sent for, I came without making objection. I ask, therefore, for what purpose have you sent for me?

And Cornelius replied: Four days ago, I was fasting till this hour; and, at the ninth hour, I was praying in my house; and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

that word, you know, which was published through the whole of Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the immersion that John preached;

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit, and with power; who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed by the devil; for God was with him.

While Peter was speaking these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all that heard the word.

And the believers that were of the circumcision, as many as had come with Peter, were astonished, because on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit:

I was in the city of Joppa, praying; and, while in a trance, I saw a vision, some vessel like a great sheet, descending, let down from heaven by the four corners; and it came even to me.

This was done the third time, and all was drawn up again into heaven.

And behold, three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea, immediately came to the house where I was.

If, then, God gave them the like gift that he gave to us who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, what was I, that I could withstand God?

And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed, and turned to the Lord.

And the report concerning them came to the ears of the church that was in Jerusalem; and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch.

For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great multitude was added to the Lord.

And one of them, named Agabus, rose and made known, by the Spirit, that a great famine was about to come on the whole habitable land; which took place in the days of Claudius.

Therefore, Peter was kept in prison; but fervent prayer to God was made for him by the church.

When Herod was about to bring him out, on that night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains; and the keepers before the doors were guarding the prison.

And he went out, and followed him; and he knew not that what was done by the angel was real, but thought that he saw a vision.

And when Peter came to himself, he said: Now I know, in truth, that the Lord has sent his angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod, and from all that was expected by the Jewish people.

And recognizing Peter's voice, she did not open the entrance for joy, but ran in and told that Peter was standing before the entrance.

And they said to her: You are mad. But she confidently affirmed that it was even so. Then said hey: It is his angel.

And when it was day, there was no little confusion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter.