until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after he had given orders through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.

And after he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

And as they were gazing intently into the sky while he was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them.

In those days Peter stood up among the brethren (the company of persons was in all about a hundred and twenty), and said,

"Brethren, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David, concerning Judas who was guide to those who arrested Jesus.

For he was counted among us and received his share in this ministry."

And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from usone of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection."

So they put forward two men, Josnt called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias.

And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.

but this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

But God raised him up, having loosed the agony of death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power.

Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh also will live in hope,

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

And so, because he was a prophet, and knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne,

he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to hades, nor did his flesh see decay.

Everyone was filled with awe; and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.

And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful to beg alms of those who entered the temple.

And they seized them and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening.

and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family.

He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which has become the chief cornerstone.

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

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

Now the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed that any of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had everything in common.

And with great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

For there was not a needy person among them, For all who were owners of land or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of the sales

and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

Thus Josnt who was called by the apostles Barnabas (which means, Son of Encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus,

While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."

Peter said to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price." And she said, "Yes, that was the price."

For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined him. But he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.

Now in those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the native Hebrews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, arose and disputed with Stephen.

And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

And he said: "Hear me, brethren and fathers! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,

"And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt. But God was with him,

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

At the second visit Josnt made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph's family was made known to Pharaoh.

At this time Moses was born, and was beautiful before God. And he was brought up for three months in his father's house;

and when he was placed outside, Pharaoh's daughter took him and brought him up as her own son.

Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds.

"When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the sons of Israel.

And he supposed that his brethren understood that God was granting them deliverance through him, but they did not understand.

But the man who was wronging his neighbor pushed him aside, saying, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?

When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight; and as he approached to look more closely, there came the voice of the Lord:

This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers; and he received living oracles to pass on to us.

And having received it in their turn, our fathers brought it in with Joshua when they took the land from the nations whom God drove out before our fathers. So it was until the time of David,

But it was Solomon who built a house for him.

Saul was consenting to his death. And on that day a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the region of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, when they heard and saw the signs which he did.

So there was much joy in that city.

Now there was a man named Simon, who had formerly practiced magic in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great,

Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.

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

So he got up and went. And there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship,

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

Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this: "He was led as a sheep to slaughter; and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he does not open his mouth.

In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken up from the earth."

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

Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord."

And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight. And he got up and was baptized,

and he took food and was strengthened. Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus.

When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.

And he was with them moving about freely in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord.

And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews; but they were seeking to kill him.

So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace and was built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.

There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed.

Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha (which is translated Dorcas). She was full of good works and acts of charity.

Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, "Please come to us without delay."

So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing the tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort,

And he became hungry and was desiring something to eat; but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance

This happened three times, and immediately the thing was taken up to heaven.

Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men that were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, appeared at the gate.

They called out, asking whether Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.

While Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are looking for you.

They said, "Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house, and to hear what you have to say."

On the following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. I ask then why you sent for me."

Cornelius said, "Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour; and behold, a man stood before me in shining garments,

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

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the message.

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

This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven.

So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could oppose God?"

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

When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts;

for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread.

So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

The very night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison.

So he went out and followed him; and he did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.

When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.

When she recognized Peter's voice, in her joy she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter was standing in front of the gate.

They said to her, "You are out of your mind!" But she kept insisting that it was so. They said, "It is his angel."

Now when day came, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter.

Now he was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; and they came to him in a body, and having persuaded Blastus, the king's chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king's country for food.

Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.

And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their mission, taking along with them John, who was also called Mark.

Now in the church that was at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.