after giving instruction through the Holy Spirit to the Apostles whom He had chosen, He was taken up to Heaven.

When He had said this, and while they were looking at Him, He was carried up, and a cloud closing beneath Him hid Him from their sight.

They entered the city, and they went up to the upper room which was now their fixed place for meeting. Their names were Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the brother of James.

It was on one of these days that Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren--the entire number of persons present being about 120--and said,

"Brethren, it was necessary that the Scripture should be fulfilled--the prediction, I mean, which the Holy Spirit uttered by the lips of David, about Judas, who acted as guide to those who arrested Jesus.

For Judas was reckoned as one of our number, and a share in this ministry was allotted to him."

beginning from His baptism by John down to the day on which He was taken up again from us into Heaven--one should be appointed to become a witness with us as to His resurrection."

Then they drew lots between them. The lot fell on Matthias, and a place among the eleven Apostles was voted to him.

So when this noise was heard, they came crowding together, and were amazed because everyone heard his own language spoken.

But that which was predicted through the Prophet Joel has happened:

But God has raised Him to life, having terminated the throes of death, for in fact it was not possible for Him to be held fast by death.

"As to the patriarch David, I need hardly remind you, brethren, that he died and was buried, and that we still have his tomb among us.

with prophetic foresight he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, to the effect that He was not left forsaken in the Unseen World, nor did His body undergo decay.

praising God and being regarded with favour by all the people. Also, day by day, the Lord added to their number those whom He was saving.

some men were carrying there one who had been lame from birth, whom they were wont to place every day close to the Beautiful Gate (as it was called)

While he still clung to Peter and John, the people, awe-struck, ran up crowding round them in what was known as Solomon's Portico.

"And now, brethren, I know that it was in ignorance that you did it, as was the case with your rulers also.

They arrested the two Apostles and lodged them in custody till the next day; for it was already evening.

The next day a meeting was held in Jerusalem of their Rulers, Elders, and Scribes,

Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he replied, "Rulers and Elders of the people,

For the man was over forty years of age on whom this miracle of restoration to health had been performed.

Among all those who had embraced the faith there was but one heart and soul, so that none of them claimed any of his possessions as his own, but everything they had was common property;

while the Apostles with great force of conviction delivered their testimony as to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus; and great grace was upon them all.

And, in fact, there was not a needy man among them, for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the money which they realised,

and gave it to the Apostles, and distribution was made to every one according to his wants.

There was a man of the name of Ananias who, with his wife Sapphira, sold some property but,

While it remained unsold, was not the land your own? And when sold, was it not at your own disposal? How is it that you have cherished this design in your heart? It is not to men you have told this lie, but to God."

"How was it," replied Peter, "that you two agreed to try an experiment upon the Spirit of the Lord? The men who have buried your husband are already at the door, and they will carry you out."

Years ago Theudas appeared, professing to be a person of importance, and a body of men, some four hundred in number, joined him. He was killed, and all his followers were dispersed and annihilated.

After him, at the time of the Census, came Judas, the Galilaean, and was the leader in a revolt. He too perished, and all his followers were scattered.

About this time, as the number of disciples was increasing, complaints were made by the Greek-speaking Jews against the Hebrews because their widows were habitually overlooked in the daily ministration.

The reply of Stephen was, "Sirs--brethren and fathers--listen to me. God Most Glorious appeared to our forefather Abraham when he was living in Mesopotamia, before he settled in Haran,

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.

"The Patriarchs were jealous of Joseph and sold him into slavery in Egypt. But God was with him

When, however, Jacob heard that there was wheat to be had, he sent our forefathers into Egypt; that was the first time.

On their second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Pharaoh was informed of Joseph's parentage.

At this time Moses was born--a wonderfully beautiful child; and for three months he was cared for in his father's house.

At length he was cast out, but Pharaoh's daughter adopted him, and brought him up as her own son.

So Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and possessed great influence through his eloquence and his achievements.

"And when he was just forty years old, it occurred to him to visit his brethren the descendants of Israel.

He supposed his brethren to be aware that by him God was sending them deliverance; this, however, they did not understand.

"But the man who was doing the wrong resented his interference, and asked, "'Who appointed you magistrate and judge over us?

When Moses saw this he wondered at the sight; but on his going up to look further, the voice of the Lord was heard, saying,

This was he who brought them out, after performing marvels and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea, and in the Desert for forty years.

This is he who was among the Congregation in the Desert, together with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai and with our forefathers, who received ever-living utterances to hand on to us.

That Tent was bequeathed to the next generation of our forefathers. Under Joshua they brought it with them when they were taking possession of the land of the Gentile nations, whom God drove out before them. So it continued till David's time.

But it was Solomon who built a house for Him.

And there was great joy in that city.

Now for some time past there had been a man named Simon living there, who had been practising magic and astonishing the Samaritans, pretending that he was more than human.

Simon himself also believed, and after being baptized remained in close attendance on Philip, and was full of amazement at seeing such signs and such great miracles performed.

When, however, Simon saw that it was through the laying on of the Apostles' hands that the Spirit was bestowed, he offered them money.

Upon this he rose and went. Now, as it happened, an Ethiopian eunuch who was in a position of high authority with Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, as her treasurer, had visited Jerusalem to worship there,

and was now on his way home; and as he sat in his chariot he was reading the Prophet Isaiah.

The passage of Scripture which he was reading was this: "Like a sheep He was led to slaughter, and just as a lamb before its shearer is dumb so He opened not His mouth.

In His humiliation justice was denied Him. Who will make known His posterity? For He is destroyed from among men."

Now Saul, whose every breath was a threat of destruction for the disciples of the Lord,

But on the journey, as he was getting near Damascus, suddenly there flashed round him a light from Heaven;

"Who art thou, Lord?" he asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," was the reply.

Now in Damascus there was a disciple of the name of Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, saying, "Ananias!" "I am here, Lord," he answered.

but information of their intention was given to him. They even watched the gates, day and night, in order to murder him;

So he came to Jerusalem and made several attempts to associate with the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, being in doubt as to whether he himself was a disciple.

Henceforth Saul was one of them, going in and out of the city,

The Church, however, throughout the whole of Judaea, Galilee and Samaria, had peace and was spiritually built up; and grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and receiving encouragement from the Holy Spirit.

Among the disciples at Jaffa was a woman called Tabitha, or, as the name may be translated, 'Dorcas.' Her life was wholly devoted to the good and charitable actions which she was constantly doing.

But, as it happened, just at that time she was taken ill and died. After washing her body they laid it out in a room upstairs.

Lud, however, being near Jaffa, the disciples, who had heard that Peter was at Lud, sent two men to him with an urgent request that he would come across to them without delay.

So Peter rose and went with them. On his arrival they took him upstairs, and the widow women all came and stood by his side, weeping and showing him the underclothing and cloaks and garments of all kinds which Dorcas used to make while she was still with them.

Now a Captain of the Italian Regiment, named Cornelius, was quartered at Caesarea.

He was religious and God-fearing--and so was every member of his household. He was also liberal in his charities to the people, and continually offered prayer to God.

So when the angel who had been speaking to him was gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a God-fearing soldier who was in constant attendance on him,

The sky had opened to his view, and what seemed to be an enormous sail was descending, being let down to the earth by ropes at the four corners.

Again a second time a voice was heard which said, "What God has purified, you must not regard as unholy."

This was said three times, and immediately the sail was drawn up out of sight.

While Peter was greatly perplexed as to the meaning of the vision which he had seen, just then the men sent by Cornelius, having by inquiry found out Simon's house,

And Peter was still earnestly thinking over the vision, when the Spirit said to him, "Three men are now inquiring for you.

Their reply was, "Cornelius, a Captain, an upright and God-fearing man, of whom the whole Jewish nation speaks well, has been divinely instructed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and listen to what you have to say."

and the day after that they reached Caesarea. There Cornelius was awaiting their arrival, and had invited all his relatives and intimate friends to be present.

"Just at this hour, three days ago," replied Cornelius, "I was offering afternoon prayer in my house, when suddenly a man in shining raiment stood in front of me,

It tells how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, so that He went about everywhere doing acts of kindness, and curing all who were being continually oppressed by the Devil--for God was with Jesus.

While Peter was speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who were listening to the Message.

And all the Jewish believers who had come with Peter were astonished that on the Gentiles also the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out.

"While I was in the town of Jaffa, offering prayer," he said, "in a trance I saw a vision. There descended what seemed to be an enormous sail, being let down from the sky by ropes at the four corners, and it came close to me.

"This was said three times, and then everything was drawn up again out of sight.

"If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we first believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, why, who was I to be able to thwart God?"

The power of the Lord was with them, and there were a vast number who believed and turned to the Lord.

On getting there he was delighted to see the grace which God had bestowed; and he encouraged them all to remain, with fixed resolve, faithful to the Lord.

For he was a good man, and was full of the Holy Spirit and of faith; and the number of believers in the Lord greatly increased.

He succeeded, and brought him to Antioch; and for a whole year they attended the meetings of the Church, and taught a large number of people. And it was in Antioch that the disciples first received the name of 'Christians.'

So Peter was kept in prison; but long and fervent prayer was offered to God by the Church on his behalf.

Now when Herod was on the point of taking him out of prison, that very night Peter was asleep between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards were on duty outside the door.

So Peter went out, following him, yet could not believe that what the angel was doing was real, but supposed that he saw a vision.

and recognizing Peter's voice, for very joy she did not open the door, but ran in and told them that Peter was standing there.

"You are mad," they said. But she strenuously maintained that it was true. "It is his guardian angel," they said.

Meanwhile Peter went on knocking, until at last they opened the door and saw that it was really he, and were filled with amazement.

When morning came, there was no little commotion among the soldiers, as to what could possibly have become of Peter.

Now the people of Tyre and Sidon had incurred Herod's violent displeasure. So they sent a large deputation to wait on him; and having secured the good will of Blastus, his treasurer, they begged the king to be friendly with them again, because their country was dependent on his for its food supply.

So, on an appointed day, Herod, having arrayed himself in royal robes, took his seat on the tribunal, and was haranguing them;

Now there were in Antioch, in the Church there--as Prophets and teachers--barnabas, Symeon surnamed 'the black,' Lucius the Cyrenaean, Manaen (who was Herod the Tetrarch's foster-brother)

who was a friend of the Proconsul Sergius Paulus. The Proconsul was a man of keen intelligence. He sent for Barnabas and Saul, and asked to be told God's Message.

Then Saul, who is also called Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and, fixing his eyes on Elymas,