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.

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

21 And in the day of the Pentecost being fulfilled, they were all with one accord at the same place, 2 and there came suddenly out of the heaven a sound as of a bearing violent breath, and it filled all the house where they were sitting, 3 and there appeared to them divided tongues, as it were of fire; it sat also upon each one of them, 4 and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, according as the Spirit was giving them to declare.

5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation of those under the heaven, 6 and the rumour of this having come, the multitude came together, and was confounded, because they were each one hearing them speaking in his proper dialect, 7 and they were all amazed, and did wonder, saying one unto another, 'Lo, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 and how do we hear, each in our proper dialect, in which we were born? 9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and those dwelling in Mesopotamia, in Judea also, and Cappadocia, Pontus, and Asia, 10 Phrygia also, and Pamphylia, Egypt, and the parts of Libya, that 'are' along Cyrene, and the strangers of Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretes and Arabians, we did hear them speaking in our tongues the great things of God.' 12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one unto another, 'What would this wish to be?' 13 and others mocking said,—'They are full of sweet wine;'

Peter's Address at Pentecost

14 and Peter having stood up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and declared to them, 'Men, Jews! and all those dwelling in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and harken to my sayings, 15 for these are not drunken, as ye take it up, for it is the third hour of the day. 16 'But this is that which hath been spoken through the prophet Joel: 17 And it shall be in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18 and also upon My men-servants, and upon My maid-servants, in those days, I will pour out of My Spirit, and they shall prophesy; 19 and I will give wonders in the heaven above, and signs upon the earth beneath—blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke, 20 the sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the day of the Lord—the great and illustrious; 21 and it shall be, every one—whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, he shall be saved. 22 'Men, Israelites! hear these words, Jesus the Nazarene, a man approved of God among you by mighty works, and wonders, and signs, that God did through him in the midst of you, according as also ye yourselves have known; 23 this one, by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, being given out, having taken by lawless hands, having crucified—ye did slay; 24 whom God did raise up, having loosed the pains of the death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it, 25 for David saith in regard to him: I foresaw the Lord always before me—because He is on my right hand—that I may not be moved; 26 because of this was my heart cheered, and my tongue was glad, and yet—my flesh also shall rest on hope, 27 because Thou wilt not leave my soul to hades, nor wilt Thou give Thy Kind One to see corruption; 28 Thou didst make known to me ways of life, Thou shalt fill me with joy with Thy countenance. 29 'Men, brethren! it is permitted to speak with freedom unto you concerning the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is among us unto this day; 30 a prophet, therefore, being, and knowing that with an oath God did swear to him, out of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, to raise up the Christ, to sit upon his throne, 31 having foreseen, he did speak concerning the rising again of the Christ, that his soul was not left to hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 'This Jesus did God raise up, of which we are all witnesses; 33 at the right hand then of God having been exalted—also the promise of the Holy Spirit having received from the Father—he was shedding forth this, which now ye see and hear; 34 for David did not go up to the heavens, and he saith himself: The Lord saith to my lord, Sit thou at my right hand, 35 till I make thy foes thy footstool; 36 assuredly, therefore, let all the house of Israel know, that both Lord and Christ did God make him—this Jesus whom ye did crucify.'

37 And having heard, they were pricked to the heart; they say also to Peter, and to the rest of the apostles, 'What shall we do, men, brethren?' 38 and Peter said unto them, 'Reform, and be baptized each of you on the name of Jesus Christ, to remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, 39 for to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all those afar off, as many as the Lord our God shall call.' 40 Also with many more other words he was testifying and exhorting, saying, 'Be saved from this perverse generation;' 41 then those, indeed, who did gladly receive his word were baptized, and there were added on that day, as it were, three thousand souls,

42 and they were continuing stedfastly in the teaching of the apostles, and the fellowship, and the breaking of the bread, and the prayers.

Life among the Believers

43 And fear came on every soul, many wonders also and signs were being done through the apostles, 44 and all those believing were at the same place, and had all things common, 45 and the possessions and the goods they were selling, and were parting them to all, according as any one had need. 46 Daily also continuing with one accord in the temple, breaking also at every house bread, they were partaking of food in gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God, and having favour with all the people, and the Lord was adding those being saved every day to the assembly.

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.'