The Promise of the Holy Spirit

11 The first account I [1]composed , Theophilus , about all that Jesus began to do and teach , 2 until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had [2]by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen . 3 To [3]these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering , by many convincing proofs , appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God . 4 [4]Gathering them together , He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem , but to wait for [5] what the Father had promised , "Which ," He said, "you heard of from Me; 5 for John baptized with water , but you will be baptized [6]with the Holy Spirit [7] not many days from now e ."

The Ascension

6 So when they had come together , they were asking Him, saying , "Lord , is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel ?" 7 He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority ; 8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem , and in all Judea and Samaria , and even to the remotest part of the earth ." 9 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 . 10 And as they were gazing intently into [8]the sky while He was going , behold , two men in white clothing stood beside them. 11 They also said , " Men of Galilee , why do you stand looking into [9]the sky ? This Jesus , who has been taken up from you into heaven , will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven ."

Judas' Successor Chosen

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the [10] mount called [11]Olivet , which is near Jerusalem , a [12]Sabbath day's journey away. 13 When they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying ; that is, Peter and John and [13]James and Andrew , Philip and Thomas , Bartholomew and Matthew , [13]James the son of Alphaeus , and Simon the Zealot , and Judas the [15]son of [13]James . 14 These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer , along with the women , and Mary the mother of Jesus , and with His brothers .

15 [17]At this time Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty [18]persons was there together e e ), and said , 16 "Brethren e , the Scripture had to be fulfilled , which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas , who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus . 17 "For he was counted among us and received his share in this ministry ." 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wickedness , and falling headlong , he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out. 19 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 .) 20 "For it is written in the book of Psalms , ' LET HIS HOMESTEAD BE MADE DESOLATE , AND LET NO ONE DWELL IN IT'; and, ' LET ANOTHER MAN TAKE HIS [19]OFFICE .' 21 "Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out [20]among us- 22 beginning [21]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 ." 23 So they put forward two men , Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus ), and Matthias . 24 And they prayed and said , "You, Lord , who know the hearts of all men , show which one of these two You have chosen 25 to [22]occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place ." 26 And they [23] drew lots for them, and the lot fell [24]to Matthias ; and he was [25]added to the eleven apostles .

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

21 When the day of Pentecost had come , they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind , and it filled the whole house where they were sitting . 3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues , as the Spirit was giving them utterance .

5 Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem , devout men from every nation under heaven . 6 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 . 7 They were amazed and astonished , saying , "Why , are not all these who are speaking Galileans ? 8 "And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born ? 9 "Parthians and Medes and Elamites , and residents of Mesopotamia , Judea and Cappadocia , Pontus and Asia , 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia , Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene , and visitors from Rome , both Jews and proselytes , 11 Cretans and Arabs -we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God ." 12 And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity , saying to one another , "What does this mean e ?" 13 But others were mocking and saying , " They are full of sweet wine ."

Peter's Address at Pentecost

14 But Peter , taking his stand with the eleven , raised his voice and declared to them: "Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem , let this be known to you and give heed to my words . 15 "For these men are not drunk , as you suppose , for it is only the third hour of the day ; 16 but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel : 17 ' AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS ,' God says , 'THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND ; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY , AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS , AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS ; 18 EVEN ON MY BONDSLAVES , BOTH MEN AND WOMEN , I WILL IN THOSE DAYS POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT And they shall prophesy . 19 'AND I WILL GRANT WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVE AND SIGNS ON THE EARTH BELOW , BLOOD , AND FIRE , AND VAPOR OF SMOKE . 20 'THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD , BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE Lord SHALL COME . 21 'AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE Lord WILL BE SAVED .' 22 "Men of Israel , listen to these words : Jesus the Nazarene , a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst , just as you yourselves know - 23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God , you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death . 24 "But God raised Him up again , putting an end to the agony of death , since it was impossible e for Him to be held in its power . 25 "For David says of Him, ' I SAW THE Lord ALWAYS e IN MY PRESENCE ; FOR HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND , SO THAT I WILL NOT BE SHAKEN . 26 'THEREFORE e MY HEART WAS GLAD AND MY TONGUE EXULTED ; MOREOVER e MY FLESH ALSO WILL LIVE IN HOPE ; 27 BECAUSE YOU WILL NOT ABANDON MY SOUL TO HADES , NOR ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY . 28 'YOU HAVE MADE KNOWN TO ME THE WAYS OF LIFE ; YOU WILL MAKE ME FULL OF GLADNESS WITH YOUR PRESENCE .' 29 "Brethren e , 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 . 30 "And so , because he was a prophet and knew that GOD HAD SWORN TO HIM WITH AN OATH TO SEAT one OF HIS DESCENDANTS e ON HIS THRONE , 31 he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ , that HE WAS NEITHER ABANDONED TO HADES , NOR DID His flesh SUFFER DECAY . 32 "This Jesus God raised up again , to which we are all witnesses . 33 "Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God , and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit , He has poured forth this which you both see and hear . 34 "For it was not David who ascended into heaven , but he himself says : ' THE Lord SAID TO MY Lord , "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND , 35 UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET ."' 36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ -this Jesus whom you crucified ."

37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart , and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles , "Brethren e , what shall we do ?" 38 Peter said to them, " Repent , and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins ; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit . 39 "For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off , as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself." 40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying , "Be saved from this perverse generation !" 41 So then , those who had received his word were baptized ; and that day there were added about three thousand souls .

42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship , to the breaking of bread and to prayer .

Life among the Believers

43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe ; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles . 44 And all those who had believed were together e e and had all things in common ; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all , as anyone might have need . 46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple , and breaking bread from house to house , they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart , 47 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 .

A Lame Man Healed at the Gate of the Temple

31 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer . 2 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 . 3 When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple , he began asking to receive alms . 4 But Peter , along with John , fixed his gaze on him and said , "Look at us!" 5 And he began to give them his attention , expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said , "I do not possess silver and gold , but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene -walk !" 7 And seizing him by the right hand , he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened . 8 With a leap he stood upright and began to walk ; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God . 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God ; 10 and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms , and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter's Address in Solomon's Porch

11 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 .

12 But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people , "Men of Israel , why are you amazed at this , or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk ? 13 " The God of Abraham , Isaac and Jacob , the God of our fathers , has glorified His servant Jesus , the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate , when he had decided to release Him. 14 "But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 but put to death the Prince of life , the one whom God raised from the dead , a fact to which we are witnesses . 16 "And on the basis of faith in His name , it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know ; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all . 17 "And now , brethren , I know that you acted in ignorance , just as your rulers did also . 18 "But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets , that His Christ would suffer , He has thus fulfilled . 19 "Therefore repent and return , so that your sins may be wiped away , in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord ; 20 and that He may send Jesus , the Christ appointed for you, 21 whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time . 22 "Moses said , ' THE Lord GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN ; TO HIM YOU SHALL GIVE HEED to everything He says to you. 23 ' And it will be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people .' 24 "And likewise , all the prophets who have spoken , from Samuel and his successors onward , also announced these days . 25 "It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers , saying to Abraham , ' AND IN YOUR SEED ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED .' 26 "For you first , God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways ."