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

And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received 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.

At this time Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty persons was there together), and said,

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

And it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem; so that in their own language that field was called Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”

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

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

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.

And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language.

but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:

But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.

‘Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue exulted;
Moreover my flesh also will live in hope;

“Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding 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 to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne,

he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay.

For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says:
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,

praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

And a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple.

While he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so-called portico of Solomon, full of amazement.

And they laid hands on 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 high-priestly descent.

He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone.

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

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

And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them.

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

For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales

Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement),

While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”

And Peter responded 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 up with him. But he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.

And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.

But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen.

But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.

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,

“The patriarchs became jealous of Joseph and sold him into Egypt. Yet God was with him,

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

On the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family was disclosed to Pharaoh.

“But as the time of the promise was approaching which God had assured to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt,

It was he who took shrewd advantage of our race and mistreated our fathers so that they would expose their infants and they would not survive.

It was at this time that Moses was born; and he was lovely in the sight of God, and he was nurtured three months in his father’s home.

Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and he was a man of power in words and deeds.

But when he was approaching the age of forty, it entered his mind 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 one who was injuring his neighbor pushed him away, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and judge over us?

This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; and he received living oracles to pass on to you.

But God turned away and delivered them up to serve the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, ‘It was not to Me that you offered victims and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, was it, O house of Israel?

But it was Solomon who built a house for Him.

‘Was it not My hand which made all these things?’

Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death.And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

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

So there was much rejoicing in that city.

Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great;

Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.

Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed 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 humiliation His judgment was taken away;
Who will relate His generation?
For His life is removed from the earth.”

As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him;

And he was three days 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 was trying to associate with 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 attempting to put him to death.

Now as Peter was traveling through all those regions, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.

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

Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did.

Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, “Do not delay in coming to us.”

So Peter arose and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the upper room; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them.

Now there was a man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort,

When the angel who was speaking to him had left, he summoned two of his servants and a devout soldier of those who were his personal attendants,

But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance;

This happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into the sky.

Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what the vision which he had seen might be, behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions for Simon’s house, appeared at the gate;

and calling out, they were asking whether Simon, who was also called 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 well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, was divinely directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear a message from you.”

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

That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask for what reason you have 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,

You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him 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 upon all those who were listening to the message.

“I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object coming down like a great sheet lowered by four corners from the sky; and it came right down to me,

and when I had fixed my gaze on it and was observing it I saw the four-footed animals of the earth and the wild beasts and the crawling creatures and the birds of the air.

This happened three times, and everything was drawn back up into the sky.

Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”

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

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

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

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

On the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison.

And he went out and continued to follow, and he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.

And 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, because of 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 kept saying, “It is his angel.”