1

O1 Lord, 2 thou that didst make the heaven 25 earth and the sea, and all that in them is:

26

Master.

and the 1 Or,
by 2 Or, thou

who

the Holy Ghost, by the mouth of our father David thy art he that servant, didst say,

Why did the Gentiles rage,

And the peoples imagine vain things?

did make.

3 The Greek
text in this
clause is
somewhat
uncertain.
4 Or,
meditate.

5 Gr. Christ.

The kings of the earth set themselves in array, And the rulers were gathered together, Against the Lord, and against his 5 Anointed: 27 for of a truth in this city against thy holy Servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of 28 Israel, were gathered together, to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel foreordained to come to pass. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants to speak thy word with all Gr. bond30 boldness, while thou stretchest forth thy hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the 31 name of thy holy Servant Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken wherein they were gathered together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

6

32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul: and not one of them said that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; 33 but they had all things common. And with great

6

servants.

cient au

power gave the apostles their witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon Some an34 them all. For neither was there among them any thorities that lacked for as many as were possessors of lands add Christ. or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the

35 things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles' feet and distribution was made unto each, according as any one had need.

36

:

lution.

And Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, Son of exhor-Or, conso37 tation), a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race, having a field, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

5

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira 2 his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the

price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. But 3 Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to 1Or,deceive. 1 lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, did it not re- 4 main thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power? How is it that thou hast conceived this thing in thy heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell 5 down and gave up the ghost and great fear came upon all that heard it. And the young men arose 6 and wrapped him round, and they carried him out and buried him.

2 Gr.

younger.

3 Or, and there were the more added to them, believing on the Lord.

And it was about the space of three hours after, 7 when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye 8 sold the land for so much. And she said, Yea, for so much. But Peter said unto her, How is it that ye 9 have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and they shall carry thee out. And she fell down immediately at his feet, and gave 10 up the ghost and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon the whole 11 church, and upon all that heard these things.

And by the hands of the apostles were many signs 12 and wonders wrought among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. But of 13 the rest durst no man join himself to them: howbeit the people magnified them; and believers were the 14 more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women; insomuch that they even carried out the sick 15 into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that, as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some one of them. And there also came 16 together the multitude from the cities round about Jerusalem, bringing sick folk, and them that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every

one.

But the high priest rose up, and all they that were 17

with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and 18 they were filled with jealousy, and laid hands on the 19 apostles, and put them in public ward. But an angel

of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and 20 brought them out, and said, Go ye, and stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this 21 Life. And when they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison-house to have them 22 brought. But the officers that came found them not 23 in the prison; and they returned, and told, saying,

The prison-house we found shut in all safety, and the keepers standing at the doors: but when we had 24 opened, we found no man within. Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were much perplexed concerning them 25 whereunto this would grow. And there came one and told them, Behold, the men whom ye put in the prison are in the temple standing and teaching the 26 people. Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them, but without violence; for they feared 27 the people, lest they should be stoned. And when

they had brought them, they set them before the coun28 cil. And the high priest asked them, saying, We straitly charged you not to teach in this name: and behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, 29 and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. But

ancient au

Peter and the apostles answered and said, We must 30 obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers 1 Or, at. raised up Jesus, whom ye slew, hanging him on a tree. 2 Some 31 Him did God exalt with his right hand to be a Prince thorities and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and add in him. 32 remission of sins. And we are witnesses 2 of these 3 things; and so is the Holy Ghost, whom God hath Some given to them that obey him.

33

3 Gr. say

ings.

ancient au

thorities

God hath

But they, when they heard this, were cut to the read and 34 heart, and were minded to slay them. But there stood given the up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a Holy Ghost doctor of the law, had in honour of all the people, and obey him.

to them that

nists.

3 Or,

tables.

commanded to put the men forth a little while. And 35
he said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to
yourselves as touching these men, what ye are about
to do. For before these days rose up Theudas, giving 36
himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of
men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who
was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dis-
persed, and came to nought. After this man rose up 37
Judas of Galilee in the days of the enrolment, and
drew away some of the people after him: he also
perished; and all, as many as obeyed him, were
scattered abroad. And now I say unto you, Refrain 38
from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel
or this work be of men, it will be overthrown: but if 39
it is of God, ye will not be able to overthrow them;
lest haply ye be found even to be fighting against
God. And to him they agreed: and when they had 40
called the apostles unto them, they beat them and
charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and
let them go. They therefore departed from the pres- 41
ence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted
worthy to suffer dishonour for the Name. And every 42
day, in the temple and at home, they ceased not to
teach and to preach Jesus as the Christ.

3

Now in these days, when the number of the disciples 6 was multiplying, there arose a murmuring of the 1 Gr. Helle Grecian Jews against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. And the twelve called the multitude of the disciples 2 2 Gr. pleas- unto them, and said, It is not fit that we should foring. sake the word of God, and serve tables. Look ye 3 minister to out therefore, brethren, from among you seven men of good report, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will continue 4 stedfastly in prayer, and in the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they 5 from among chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch whom they set before the apostles: and when 6 they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

4 Some

ancient authorities read But, brethren,

look ye out

you.

7

8

And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

And Stephen, full of grace and power, wrought 9 great wonders and signs among the people. But there arose certain of them that were of the synagogue called the synagogue of the Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them of 10 Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit 11 by which he spake. Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words 12 against Moses, and against God. And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and seized him, and brought him into the 13 council, and set up false witnesses, which said, This

man ceaseth not to speak words against this holy place, 14 and the law for we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and stall change 15 the customs which Moses delivered unto us. And all that sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

7

And the high priest said, Are these things so? 2 And he said,

Brethren and fathers, hearken. The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in 3 Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said unto him, Get thee out of thy land, and from thy kindred, 4 and come into the land which I shall shew thee. Then came he out of the land of the Chaldæans, and dwelt in Haran and from thence, when his father was dead, God removed him into this land, wherein ye now 5 dwell and he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: and he promised that he would give it to him in possession, and to his 6 seed after him, when as yet he had no child. And God

:

spake on this wise, that his seed should sojourn in a strange land, and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil, four hundred years. 7 And the nation to which they shall be in bondage will