THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

I

In my first book, Theophilus, I told of all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning down to the day when, after giving commands, through the Holy Spirit, to the apostles whom he had chosen, he was taken up to heaven. By many proofs he revealed himself to these men as still alive after his sufferings; for he was seen by them for forty days and spoke of things relating to the kingdom of God. Also while eating with them, he charged them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, "which," said he, "you have heard from me. For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence."

When they came together, they asked him, "Master, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them, "It is not yours to know the times and seasons which the Father has put under his own authority. But you will receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem and in all Judæa and in Samaria and to the ends of the earth."

He said this and then, while they were looking on, he was taken up and a cloud lifted him from their sight. They were gazing into the sky as he went, when suddenly two men in white robes were standing beside them and said, "Men of Galilee, why are you standing and looking up into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way that you have seen him go into heaven." They then returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called the Olive Orchard, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey distant. When they came into the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying. There were Peter and John, and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphæus and Simon the A little less than three quarters of a mile.

1

Zealot, and Judas the son of James. All of these continued earnestly and unitedly in prayer with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brothers.

In those days Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren (the company numbered about a hundred and twenty) and said: "Brethren, it was necessary that the Scripture should be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us and received a share in this service. (This man bought a piece of land with the price of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst asunder and all his entrails were poured out. It became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that that field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, the Field of Blood.) For it is written in the book of Psalms, 'Let his dwelling become desolate and let there be no one living in it,' and, 'His overseership let another take.' It is needful, therefore, that of the men who have been with us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, from the baptism of John down to the day that he was taken up from us-that one of these should become a witness with us of his resurrection." So they put forward two, Joseph who is called Barsabbas, surnamed Justus, and Matthias. In prayer they said, "O Lord, thou who knowest the hearts of all, show which one of these two thou has chosen to take the place in this service and apostleship which Judas deserted to go to his own place." Then they cast lots between them. The lot fell on Matthias and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

II

DURING the course of the day of Pentecost they were all together in the same place, when suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of a strong rushing wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them, as it were, tongues of flame distributing themselves, and one rested on each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in foreign tongues, as the Spirit gave them power of expression..

There were Jews living in Jerusalem, pious men from every nation under heaven. When this sound was heard, the crowd came together and were astonished because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were amazed and, wondering, said, "Are not all these who are talking, Galilæans? How then does each of us hear them in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and those who live in Mesopotamia, Judæa and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphilia, Egypt and the regions of Libya toward Cyrene, visitors from Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God." They were all astonished and at a loss, one saying to another, "What does this mean?" Some scoffingly said, "They are full of sweet wine."

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: "Fellow Jews, and all of you who live in Jerusalem, understand this and listen to my words. These are not drunk, as you assume, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning; but this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 'It will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all mankind, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. Yes, upon the slave men and slave girls that are mine I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will give portents in heaven above and signs on the earth beneath, blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the day of the Lord comes that great and glorious day. And every one who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' Fellow Israelites, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene was a man proved to be sent to you from God by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through him in the midst of you, as you yourselves know. But when he had been delivered up according to the fixed purpose and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed him through the hands of lawless men. But God freed him from the pangs of death and raised him up, since it was impossible that he should be held under the power of death. For David says of him, 'I saw the

Lord always before my face, for he is at my right hand so that I may not be cast down. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices, and my flesh still dwells in hope that thou wilt not leave my soul to Hades and wilt not let thy holy one see decay. Thou makest me know the paths of life. Thou wilt fill me with joy in thy presence.'

"Brethren, allow me to say frankly to you regarding the patriarch David that he died and was buried and his tomb is among us to this day. But being a prophet and knowing that God had sworn to him an oath to place a descendant of his body upon his throne, he foreseeing spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, saying that he was not left to Hades and that his flesh did not see decay. This Jesus, God raised up, and all of us are witnesses of it. 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 out this which you see and hear. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says, 'The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool.' Let all the house of Israel know surely that this Jesus, whom you crucified, God has made both Lord and Christ."

Hearing this they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "What shall we do, brethren?" Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise belongs to you and to your children and to all those who are far off, as many as the Lord your God may call." With many other words he bore witness and exhorted them, "Save yourselves from this perverse generation." Those who accepted his message were baptized, and there were added on that day about three thousand souls. These gave constant attention to the teaching of the apostles and to the fellowship and the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Awe came on every soul. Many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. All who believed had all things together in common. They would sell their lands and goods and distribute to all as any one had need. Every day, continuing with

one accord in the Temple courts and in breaking bread from house to house, they ate together in joy and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. The Lord added daily to their number those who were being saved.

III

PETER and John were going up into the Temple courts at the hour of prayer, three o'clock, when a man lame from his birth was being carried along. This man used to be placed every day near the gate of the Temple courts the one called the Beautiful Gate to beg of those who were entering. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the Temple courts, he begged to receive something. But Peter fixing his eyes on him, along with John, said, "Look at us." He gave attention to them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, "Silver and gold I have not; but what I have I will give you. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk." Grasping his right hand he lifted him up. Immediately his feet and ankles became strong, and he sprang up and stood and walked and entered the Temple court with them, walking and leaping and praising God. All the people saw him walking about and praising God, and when they recognized that it was he who had sat begging at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple court, they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

While he still clung to Peter and John, all the people ran crowding around them in what was called Solomon's Colonnade, greatly astonished. Peter, seeing the people, explained, "Fellow Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you gaze so at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus whom you delivered up and disowned before Pilate when he had decided to release him. You disowned the holy and righteous one and begged to have a murderer granted you. You killed the Author of life, but God raised him from the dead. Of this we are witnesses. And now by faith in his name this man whom you see and know has been made strong by his name, and the faith that