until the day he was taken up, [after he] had given orders through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen,

And [while he] was with [them], he commanded them, "Do not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for what was promised by the Father, which you heard about from me.

And [after he] had said these [things], [while] they were watching, he was taken up, and a cloud received him from their sight.

And as they were staring into the sky [while] he was departing, behold, two men in white clothing stood by them

who also said, "Men {of Galilee}, why do you stand there looking into the sky? This Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven like this will come back in the same way you saw him departing into heaven!"

And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers (and it was a crowd of persons of about one hundred twenty at the same [place]) [and] said,

"Men [and] brothers, it was necessary [that] the scripture be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit proclaimed beforehand through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus,

because he was counted among us and received a share in this ministry."

And it became known to all who live in Jerusalem, so that that field was called in their own language "Akeldama," that is, "Field of Blood.")

beginning from the baptism of John until the day [on] which he was taken up from us--one of these [men] must become a witness of his resurrection together with us."

And they proposed two [men], Joseph called Barsabbas (who was called Justus) and Matthias.

And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was added [to serve] with the eleven apostles.

And [when] this sound occurred, the crowd gathered and was in confusion, because each one was hearing them speaking in his own language.

But this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

God raised {him} up, having brought to an end the pains of death, because it was not possible [for] him to be held by it.

For this [reason] my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced greatly, furthermore also my flesh will live in hope,

"Men [and] brothers, it is possible to speak with confidence to you about the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us until this day.

Therefore, [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,

[by] having foreseen [this], he spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he abandoned in Hades nor did his flesh experience decay.

praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding every day to the total [of] those who were being saved.

And a certain man was being carried who was lame {from birth}. {He} was placed every day at the gate of the temple called "Beautiful," [so that he] could ask for charitable gifts from those who were going into the temple [courts].

And they recognized him, that this one was the one who used to sit [asking] for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with awe and astonishment at what had happened to him.

And [while] he was holding fast to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's, utterly astonished.

And they laid hands on them and put [them] in custody until the next day, because it was already evening.

But many of those who listened to the message believed, and the number of the men was approximately five thousand.

if we are being examined today concerning a good deed [done to] a sick man--by what [means] this man was healed--

This one is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, that has become {the cornerstone}.

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 gathered was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.

Now the group of those who believed were one heart and soul, and no one said anything of what belonged to him was his own, but all [things] were theirs in common.

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

For there was not even anyone needy among them, because all those who were owners of plots of land or houses were selling [them] [and] bringing the proceeds of the things that were sold

and placing [them] at the feet of the apostles. And it was being distributed to each as anyone had need.

So Joseph, who was called Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated "son of encouragement"), a Levite of Cyprus by nationality,

and he kept back for himself [some] of the proceeds, and [his] wife was aware of [it]. And he brought a certain part [and] placed [it] at the feet of the apostles.

[When it] remained to you, did it not remain [yours]? And [when it] was sold, was it at your disposal? How [is it] that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to people, but to God!"

And it happened that [there was] an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

So Peter [said] to her, "How [is it] that it was agreed by you [two] to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who buried your husband [are] at the door, and they will carry you out!"

For before these days, Theudas rose up saying he was somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined {him}. {He} was executed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.

Every day, both in the temple [courts] and from house [to house], they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news [that] the Christ [was] Jesus.

And the word of God kept spreading, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem was increasing greatly, and a large number of priests began obeying the faith.

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

But some of those from the Synagogue of the Freedmen ({as it was called}), both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up [and] disputed with Stephen.

And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.

And [as they] looked intently at him, all those who were sitting in the Sanhedrin saw his face [was] like the face of an angel.

So he said, "Men--brothers and fathers--listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham [while he] was in Mesopotamia, before he settled in Haran,

And the patriarchs, [because they] were jealous of Joseph, sold [him] into Egypt. And God was with him,

So [when] Jacob heard [there] was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.

And on the second [visit] Joseph was made known to his brothers, and the family of Joseph became known to Pharaoh.

"But as the time of the promise that God had made to Abraham was drawing near, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt

At this time Moses was born, and he was beautiful to God. {He} was brought up [for] three months in [his] father's house,

and [when] he was abandoned, the daughter of Pharaoh took him [up] and brought him [up] {as her own son}.

And Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was powerful in his words and deeds.

"But when {he was forty years old}, it entered in his heart to visit his brothers, the sons of Israel.

And he thought his brothers would understand that God was granting deliverance to them by his hand, but they did not understand.

And on the following day, he made an appearance to them [while they] were fighting and was attempting to reconcile them in peace, saying, 'Men [and] brothers, why are you doing wrong to one another?'

But the one who was doing wrong to [his] neighbor pushed him aside, saying, 'Who appointed you a ruler and a judge over us?

And [when] Moses saw [it], he was astonished at the sight, and [when] he approached to look at [it], the voice of the Lord came:

This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and who [with] our fathers received living oracles to give to us,

And they kept on stoning Stephen [as he] was calling out and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!"

And Saul was agreeing with his murder. Now there happened on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

But Saul was attempting to destroy the church. Entering {house after house}, he dragged off both men and women [and] delivered [them] to prison.

And the crowds with one mind were paying attention to what was being said by Philip, [as] they heard [him] and saw the signs that he was performing.

And there was great joy in that city.

Now a certain man {named} Simon had been in the city practicing magic and astonishing the people of Samaria, saying he was someone great.

But when they believed Philip [as he] was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were being baptized.

And Simon himself also believed, and [after he] was baptized he was {keeping close company with} Philip. And [when he] saw the signs and great miracles that were taking place, he was astonished.

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

And he got up [and] went, and behold, [there was] a man, an Ethiopian eunuch (a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasury) who had come to worship in Jerusalem

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

Now the passage of scripture that he was reading aloud was this: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb before its shearer [is] silent, so he did not open his mouth.

In his humiliation justice was taken from him. Who can describe his {descendants}? For his life was taken away from the earth."

And he was {unable to see} [for] three days, and he did not eat or drink.

Now there was a certain disciple in Damascus {named} Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias!" And he said, "Behold, [here] I [am], Lord!"

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

and [after] taking food, he regained his strength. And he was with the disciples in Damascus several days.

And all who heard [him] were amazed, and were saying, "Is this not the one who was wreaking havoc in Jerusalem [on] those who call upon this name, and had come here for this [reason], that he could bring them tied up to the chief priests?"

But Saul was increasing in strength even more, and was confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus [by] proving that this one is the Christ.

And [when he] arrived in Jerusalem, he was attempting to associate with the disciples, and they were all afraid of him, [because they] did not believe that he was a disciple.

And he was going in and going out among them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.

And he was speaking and debating with the {Greek-speaking Jews}, but they were trying to do away with him.

Then the church throughout all of Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being strengthened. And living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it was increasing [in numbers].

Now it happened that [as] Peter was traveling through all [the places], [he] also came down to the saints who lived [in] Lydda.

And he found there a certain man {named} Aeneas who was paralyzed, who had been lying on a mat for eight years.

Now in Joppa there was a certain female disciple {named} Tabitha (which translated means "Dorcas"). She was full of good deeds and charitable giving which she was constantly doing.

And [because] Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, [when they] heard that Peter was in {Lydda}, sent two men to him, urging, "Do not delay to come to us!"

So Peter got up [and] accompanied them. [When he] arrived, they brought [him] up to the upstairs room, and all the widows came to him, weeping and showing [him] tunics and [other] clothing that Dorcas used to make [while she] was with them.

Now [there was] a certain man in Caesarea {named} Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Cohort,

And this happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into heaven.

Now while Peter was greatly perplexed within himself [as to] what the vision that he had seen might be, behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having found the house of Simon by asking around, stood at the gate.

And they called out [and] asked if Simon who was also called Peter was staying there as a guest.

And [while] Peter was reflecting about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, men are looking for you.

And they said, "Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man--and well spoken of by the whole nation of the Jews--was directed by a holy angel to summon you to his house and to hear words from you."

Therefore--and without raising any objection--I came [when I] was sent for. So I ask for what reason you sent for me."

And Cornelius said, "{Four days ago at this hour}, [the] ninth, I was praying in my house. And behold, a man in shining clothing stood before me

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

[While] Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on 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 something like a large sheet coming down, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came to me.

[As I] looked intently into it, I was considering [it], and I saw the four-footed animals of the earth and the wild animals and the reptiles and the birds of the sky.

And this happened three times, and everything was pulled up into heaven again.