The Promise of the Holy Spirit

11 The former account, indeed, I made concerning all things, O Theophilus, that Jesus began both to do and to teach, 2 till the day in which, having given command, through the Holy Spirit, to the apostles whom he did choose out, he was taken up, 3 to whom also he did present himself alive after his suffering, in many certain proofs, through forty days being seen by them, and speaking the things concerning the reign of God. 4 And being assembled together with them, he commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, 'saith he,' 'Ye did hear of me; 5 because John, indeed, baptized with water, and ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit—after not many days.'

The Ascension

6 They, therefore, indeed, having come together, were questioning him, saying, 'Lord, dost thou at this time restore the reign to Israel?' 7 and he said unto them, 'It is not yours to know times or seasons that the Father did appoint in His own authority; 8 but ye shall receive power at the coming of the Holy Spirit upon you, and ye shall be witnesses to me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and unto the end of the earth.' 9 And these things having said—they beholding—he was taken up, and a cloud did receive him up from their sight; 10 and as they were looking stedfastly to the heaven in his going on, then, lo, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, 'Men, Galileans, why do ye stand gazing into the heaven? this Jesus who was received up from you into the heaven, shall so come in what manner ye saw him going on to the heaven.'

Judas' Successor Chosen

12 Then did they return to Jerusalem from the mount that is called of Olives, that is near Jerusalem, a sabbath's journey; 13 and when they came in, they went up to the upper room, where were abiding both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James, of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zelotes, and Judas, of James; 14 these all were continuing with one accord in prayer and supplication, with women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

15 And in these days, Peter having risen up in the midst of the disciples, said, (the multitude also of the names at the same place was, as it were, an hundred and twenty,) 16 'Men, brethren, it behoved this Writing that it be fulfilled that beforehand the Holy Spirit spake through the mouth of David, concerning Judas, who became guide to those who took Jesus, 17 because he was numbered among us, and did receive the share in this ministration, 18 this one, indeed, then, purchased a field out of the reward of unrighteousness, and falling headlong, burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed forth, 19 and it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem, insomuch that that place is called, in their proper dialect, Aceldama, that is, field of blood, 20 for it hath been written in the book of Psalms: Let his lodging-place become desolate, and let no one be dwelling in it, and his oversight let another take. 21 'It behoveth, therefore, of the men who did go with us during all the time in which the Lord Jesus went in and went out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John, unto the day in which he was received up from us, one of these to become with us a witness of his rising again.' 23 And they set two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias, 24 and having prayed, they said, 'Thou, Lord, who art knowing the heart of all, shew which one thou didst choose of these two 25 to receive the share of this ministration and apostleship, from which Judas, by transgression, did fall, to go on to his proper place;' 26 and they gave their lots, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

A Lame Man Healed at the Gate of the Temple

31 And Peter and John were going up at the same time to the temple, at the hour of the prayer, the ninth 'hour', 2 and a certain man, being lame from the womb of his mother, was being carried, whom they were laying every day at the gate of the temple, called Beautiful, to ask a kindness from those entering into the temple, 3 who, having seen Peter and John about to go into the temple, was begging to receive a kindness. 4 And Peter, having looked stedfastly toward him with John, said, 'Look toward us;' 5 and he was giving heed to them, looking to receive something from them; 6 and Peter said, 'Silver and gold I have none, but what I have, that I give to thee; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and be walking.' 7 And having seized him by the right hand, he raised 'him' up, and presently his feet and ankles were strengthened, 8 and springing up, he stood, and was walking, and did enter with them into the temple, walking and springing, and praising God; 9 and all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they were knowing him also that this it was who for a kindness was sitting at the Beautiful gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what hath happened to him.

Peter's Address in Solomon's Porch

11 And at the lame man who was healed holding Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch called Solomon's—greatly amazed,

12 and Peter having seen, answered unto the people, 'Men, Israelites! why wonder ye at this? or on us why look ye so earnestly, as if by our own power or piety we have made him to walk? 13 'The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, did glorify His child Jesus, whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, he having given judgment to release 'him', 14 and ye the Holy and Righteous One did deny, and desired a man—a murderer—to be granted to you, 15 and the Prince of the life ye did kill, whom God did raise out of the dead, of which we are witnesses; 16 and on the faith of his name, this one whom ye see and have known, his name made strong, even the faith that 'is' through him did give to him this perfect soundness before you all. 17 'And now, brethren, I have known that through ignorance ye did 'it', as also your rulers; 18 and God, what things before He had declared through the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ should suffer, He did thus fulfil; 19 reform ye, therefore, and turn back, for your sins being blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and He may send Jesus Christ who before hath been preached to you, 21 whom it behoveth heaven, indeed, to receive till times of a restitution of all things, of which God spake through the mouth of all His holy prophets from the age. 22 'For Moses, indeed, unto the fathers said—A prophet to you shall the Lord your God raise up out of your brethren, like to me; him shall ye hear in all things, as many as he may speak unto you; 23 and it shall be, every soul that may not hear that prophet shall be utterly destroyed out of the people; 24 and also all the prophets from Samuel and those following in order, as many as spake, did also foretell of these days. 25 'Ye are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant that God made unto our fathers, saying unto Abraham: And in thy seed shall be blessed all the families of the earth; 26 to you first, God, having raised up His child Jesus, did send him, blessing you, in the turning away of each one from your evil ways.'