All that believed were united together, and had all things in common,

One day as Peter and John were going together to the temple, at the ninth hour, which was the hour of prayer,

they were carrying a man who had been lame from his birth, one whom they daily laid at the gate of the temple called, Beauty-gate, to ask alms of those that pass'd into the temple.

and knowing it was he who us'd to sit begging at the Beauty-gate of the temple, they were filled with wonder and amazement at such an event.

As the lame man who was cured, held Peter and John, the people all in surprize ran to Solomon's porch, where they were.

which Peter observing, thus addressed them, ye men of Israel, why are ye so surprized at this event? or why do you look so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or piety, we had caus'd this man to walk?

the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and renounced in opposition to Pilate, who was determined to let him go.

but killed the prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

and now, brethren, I know it was through ignorance, that both you and your rulers, have acted thus.

repent therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshment shall come from the presence of the Lord, who shall send Jesus Christ,

for Moses said to the fathers, "a prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, of your brethren, like unto me; observe whatever he shall say to you.

ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, when he said to Abraham, "all the families of the earth shall be blessed in your posterity."

it is to you that God first of all sent his son Jesus, having raised him up to bless you, provided you all renounce your iniquities.

While they were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadduces came upon them,

with Annas the high priest, Caiphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the pontifical family.

and having caused Peter and John to appear, they asked, by what influence, or by what authority have you done this?

since we are this day to be examined about the cure of a cripple, and by what means he was recovered; be it known to you all,

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were illiterate, and of the lower rank of men, they were surpriz'd; but tho' they knew that they had been Jesus's disciples,

so they called them in, and commanded them not to speak or teach upon any account, in the name of Jesus.

As soon as they were discharg'd, they went to their brethren, and reported all that the chief priests and senators had said to them:

the kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ."

When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled, trembled; they were all filled with the holy spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

Now the whole body of believers were but one heart, and one soul: no one look'd upon what he possessed, as his own, but every thing was held in common.

Great was the power by which the apostles attested the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and they were all greatly favoured by the people.

for there was no poor among them, because as many as bad lands or houses, sold them, and brought the value,

was not the estate your own estate? and was not the price for which it was sold, all in your own hands? how came such a design as this in your heart? thou hast not lyed unto men, but unto God.

then Peter said to her, how comes it that you have conspir'd together, to tempt the spirit of the Lord? see there at the door the men that are come from burying thy husband, and they shall carry thee out likewise.

Thus were many signs and wonders wrought among the people, by the apostles, who us'd to meet in Solomon's porch with great unanimity:

multitudes came likewise from the neighbouring cities to Jerusalem, bringing their sick, and those who were tormented with impure spirits: who were all cured.

Then the high priest, and all that accompanied him, who were of the sect of the Sadducees, being filled with indignation,

when somebody came and told them, the men whom ye order'd to prison, are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.

saying, did not we strictly command you, not to teach in this name? and yet you have spread your doctrine through Jerusalem, and you endeavour to make us responsible for this man's blood.

the God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew, and hanged on a tree.

and we are his witnesses in what we say, and so is the holy spirit, whom God hath given to those that obey him.

When they heard that, they were so enraged, they consulted to take away their lives.

for some time ago one Theudas started up, pretending to be something extraordinary, who was join'd indeed by about four hundred men: but he was no sooner put to death, than his followers all dispers'd, and were reduc'd to nothing.

after this man, Judas of Galilee appear'd, at the time of the registry, and seduc'd many people: he also perished, and all his followers were dispersed.

after the apostles were called in, and scourged, they charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then releas'd them. out they went from the council,

full of joy, that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Jesus.

and every day either in the temple or in private houses they continued to preach and proclaim Jesus to be the Christ.

At that time, as the number of the disciples was multiplied, the Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the distribution that was made daily.

the twelve therefore assembled all the disciples, and said, it is not fit that we should leave the word of God, to mind what relates to your meals.

wherefore, brethren, chuse out of your number seven persons of good reputation, full of the holy spirit and wisdom, who may have the management of this affair:

whilst we shall continue our applications to prayer, and to preaching.

but as they were not able to withstand the force of that sublime knowledge which appeared in his discourse,

where they produc'd false witnesses, who said, this man is continually inveighing against the holy place, and against the law.

and all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw an air of majesty in his aspect.

Then said the high priest, are these things so?

Stephen answer'd, my brethren, and you my fathers, lend your attention. The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,

and said to him, quit your country, and your kindred, to go to the land which I shall shew thee.

thereupon he went out of Chaldea, and dwelt in Charran: from thence, after his father's death, he removed him to this very country where you now dwell.

God declar'd likewise, "that his posterity should sojourn in a strange land, where they should be enslaved and abused four hundred years.

in the mean time a famine spread over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, so that our fathers did not know where to get provisions.

but when Jacob heard there was corn in Egypt, he sent our fathers there.

at the second voyage Joseph discover'd himself to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred were made known to Pharaoh.

so Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he and our fathers,

and were transported to Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.

this prince employ'd all his arts against our nation, and persecuted our fathers, by obliging them to expose their young children, in order to extirpate the race.

the next day seeing some that were fighting, he would have persuaded them to agree, saying, sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye injure one another?

and went to reside in the land of Madian, where he became the father of two sons.

when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina, an angel of the Lord in a flaming bush.

then said the Lord to him, "put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.

this is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, "a prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear."

'twas he that was in the assembly with our fathers in the wilderness, and with the angel that spoke to him on mount Sina: and delivered the oracles to him by word of mouth for our use.

him our fathers would not obey, but rejected him, and they return'd to their Egyptian disposition.

"make us gods, said they to Aaron, to be our guides: for as for this Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him."

on the contrary, ye carried the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: wherefore I will transport you beyond Babylon."

our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, ordering Moses to make it according to the model that he had seen.

which our fathers and Joshua having receiv'd, they carry'd it into the territory of those nations whom God drove out upon their arrival: where it staid to the time of David, who was favoured by God,

and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?

stubborn people, whose hearts and ears like the uncircumcised, are always averse to the holy spirit: as your fathers did, so do ye.

was there ever any prophet whom your fathers did not persecute? have they not slain those who predicted the coming of that just person whom you have so lately betrayed and murder'd?

When they heard these things, they were transported with rage, and gnashed their teeth against him.

and Saul was accessory to his death. At that time the persecution was so violent against the church at Jerusalem, they were all dispers'd through the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles,

but they that were dispers'd, preach'd the gospel wherever they went.

for the impure spirits, with great outcries, came out of many that were possessed: many paralytic, and lame people were cured.

no wonder they were so attach'd to one, who had for a long time infatuated them with his arts.

but when they had embraced the doctrine of Philip, concerning the kingdom of the Messias, and the authority of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem, heard that the Samaritans had embraced the word of God, they sent Peter and John,

for I perceive you are upon the brink of misery, led captive by your sin.

and the eunuch answered Philip, and said, pray, of whom does the prophet say this? of himself, or of some other?

[and Philip said, if you believe with all your heart, you may. and he answered, I do believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God.]

when they were come out of the water, the spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he pursued his way with joy.

went to the high priest, and demanded letters for the synagogues of Damascus, that if he found any of this sect, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

where he was three days without sight, and did neither eat nor drink.

Ananias therefore departed, and being arrived at the house, he put his hands on Saul, and said, brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus that appeared to you on your journey hither, hath sent me, that you might obtain your sight, and be filled with the holy spirit.

the audience were all amazed, and said, is not this he that persecuted the professors of this doctrine at Jerusalem, and came here on purpose to carry them prisoners to the chief priests?

but Saul was appriz'd of their plot. and as they were night and day upon the watch at the gates, in order to kill him,

when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he try'd to associate himself with the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and could not be persuaded that he was a disciple.

Then the churches in all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, were unmolested and establish'd, and by their religious conduct, and the assistance of the holy spirit, grew more extensive.

where finding a man named Eneas, a paralytic, who had kept his bed eight years,

Peter said to him, Eneas, Jesus, who is the Messiah, gives thee health: rise, and make your bed your self: upon which he immediately rose.

As soon as the angel that spoke to Cornelius was departed, he called two of his domesticks, and a devout soldier, one of those that were in waiting:

On the morrow as they were on their journey, and drew nigh the city, Peter went upon the leads to pray, about the sixth hour.

and being seiz'd with hunger, he would have had something to eat: but while they were making it ready, he fell into a trance,

in it were all sorts of quadrupeds, reptiles, and birds.

but Peter said, not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

As Peter was still pondering upon the vision, the spirit said to him, there are people below, who enquire for you.

the next day they arriv'd at Cesarea: where Cornelius expected them, having invited his kinsmen and intimate friends, to his house.

and as he discours'd with him, he went in, where finding many persons assembled; you know,