194 18 was numbered with us, and had obtained a part of this ministry:) this man, therefore, purchased a field with the reward of iniquity, and falling down on his face, he burst asunder in the middle, and all his bowels 19 gushed out and it was known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that that field is called, in their language, Aceldama; that is, The Field 20 of Blood. For it is written in the book of Psalms, "Let his habitation

be desolate, and let no man dwell in it;" and, "Let another take his of 21 fice." It is necessary, therefore, that one of the men who have continu 22 ed with us all the time the Lord Jesus was conversant among us, com. mencing from his immersion by John, until the day of his assumption, 23 should be constituted a witness with us, of his resurrection. And they

set up two men, Joseph, called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and 24 Matthias. And they prayed, saying, Thou, Lord, who knowest the 25 hearts of all, show which of these two thou hast chosen, that he may take part of the ministry and apostleship, from which Judas fell by trans 26 gression, that he might go to his own place. And they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven Apostles.

SECTION II.

The Descent of the Holy Spirit and Commencement of the Reign of Messiah.

II.-AND when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all 2 unanimously assembled in the same place: and, on a sudden, there was a sound from heaven, as of a rushing violent wind; and it filled all the 3 house, where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues re4 sembling fire, distinctly separated, and it rested upon each of them: and

they began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 Now there were sojourning in Jerusalem pious men, Jews from every (6 nation under heaven: and when this report came abroad, the multitud

assembled, and were confounded; for every one heard them speaking i 7 his own dialect. And they were all astonished, and wondered, saying 8 one to another, Behold! are not all these that speak Galileans? And how 9 do we every one hear in his own native language; Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and those that inhabit Mesopotamia, and Judea, and Cap10 padocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, Egypt, and the parts of Africa which are about Cyrene; Roman strangers also, both Jews and 11 proselytes; Cretes, and Arabians; we hear them speaking in our own 12 tongues the wonderful works of God! And they were all in amazement 13 and perplexity, and said one to another, What can this mean? But others, mocking, said, Surely these men are filled with sweet wine.

14

But Peter standing up with the eleven, raised his voice, and said to thein, Jews, and all you that sojourn in Jerusalem, let this be known to 15 you, and attend to my words; for these men are not drunk, as you sup16 pose; since it is but the third hour of the day: but this is that which was 17 spoken by the prophet Joel, "And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God I will pour out a portion of my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; and your young men shall see 18 visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Yes, in those days I will pour out of my Spirit upon my servants, and upon my handmaids; and 19 they shall prophesy: and I will give prodigies in heaven above, and 20 signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and a cloud of smoke: the

sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that 21 great and illustrious day of the Lord come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall invoke the name of the Lord, shall be saved." 22 Israelites, hear these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man recommended to you by God by powerful operations, and wonders, and signs, which God wrought by him in the midst of you, (as you yourselves also know;) 23 him you have apprehended, being given up by the declared counsel and foreknowledge of God, and by the hands of sinners have crucified and

24 slain: whom God has raised up, and having loosed the pains of death, as 25 it was impossible that he should be held under it. For David says con

cerning him, "I have regarded the Lord as always before me; because 26 he is at my right hand, that I might not be moved: for this reason my

heart is glad, and my tongue exults; moreover too, my flesh shall rest in 27 hope that thou wilt not leave my soul in the unseen world, neither wilt 28 thou permit thy Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made me to

know the ways of life; thou wilt make me full of joy with thy counte29 nance." Brethren, permit me to speak freely to you concerning the pat riarch David; that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is among 30 us to this day: therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn to him with an oath, that of the fruit of his loins he would raise 31 up the Messiah to sit on his throne; he, foreseeing this, spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that his soul should not be left in the unseen 32 world, nor his flesh see corruption. This Jesus, God has raised up, of 33 which all we are witnesses: being exalted, therefore, to the right hand of God, and having received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the 34 Father, he has shed forth this, which you see and hear. For David is not ascended into heaven, but he says, "The Lord said to my Lord, Sit 35 thou at my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool." Let, there fore, all the house of Israel assuredly know, that God has made this Jesus, whom you have crucified, Lord and Messiah.

37

Now, when they heard these things, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter, and the rest of the Apostles, Brethren, what shall we 38 do? And Peter said to them, Reform, and be each of you immersed in the name of Jesus Christ, in order to the remission of sins, and you shall 39 receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you, and to

your children, and to all that are afar off; as many as the Lord our God 40 shali call. And with many other words he testified, and exhorted, say41 ing, Save yourselves from this perverse generation. They, therefore, who received his word with readiness, were immersed: and there were added to the disciples that very day about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued stedfast in the teaching, in the fellowship, in 43 the breaking of the loaf, and in the prayers of the Apostles. Fear

also fell upon every soul, and many miracles and signs were 44 wrought by the Apostles. And all that believed were together, and had 45 all things conimon. They also sold their possessions and effects, and dis46 tributed them to every one according to his necessity. Moreover, they

continued unanimously in the temple every day; and breaking bread from house to house, they partook of their food with joy and simplicity of 47 heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people; and the Lord daily added the saved to the congregation.

SECTION III.

The Cure of a Man lame from his Birth.

III. NOW, about that time, Peter and John went up to the temple, at 2 the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man, who had been lame from his birth, was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple, which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of those that entered 3 into the temple; who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, 4 begged to receive alms. But Peter, with John, looking stedfastly upon 5 him, said, Look on us. And he fixed his eyes upon them, expecting to 6 receive something from them. But Peter said, Silver and gold I have none; but what I have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Naza7 rene, rise up and walk. And taking him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and ancle bones were strengthened. 8 And leaping up, he stood, and walked about, and entered with them into 9 the temple, walking, and leaping, and prysing God. And all the people 10 saw him walking, and praving ; and they knew him to be the sanie

CH. IV person who had sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple, and were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened to him.

11 And while he kept fast hold of Peter and John, all the people ran to gether to them, exceedingly astonished, in the portico called Solomon's 12 And Peter seeing this, answered the people, Israelites, why do you wonder at this? or why fix your eyes on us, as if by our own power, or 13 piety, we had made this man to walk? The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Son Jesus, whom you delivered up and rejected in the presence of Pilate, when he 14 was desirous to release him; but you rejected the Holy and Righteous 15 One, and desired a murderer to be granted to you; and killed the Prince

of Life, whom God has raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses; 16 and his name, through faith in his name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know; yes, the faith which is by him, has given him this 17 perfect soundness, in the presence of you all. And now, brethren, I 18 know that through ignorance you did it, as did also your rulers; but those things which God foretold by the mouth of all his prophets, that the 19 Messiah should suffer, he has thus fulfilled. Reform, therefore, and re

turn to God, that so your sins may be blotted out; that seasons of refresh 20 ment may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send 21 Jesus Christ, who was before designed for you: whom indeed heaven

must retain till the times of the accomplishment of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets, from the beginning of 22 time. Moses truly said, to the fathers, "A prophet like me shall the Lord your God raise up for you, from among your brethren; him shall 23 you obey in all things, whatsoever he shall say to you: and it shall come to pass, that every soul who will not obey that prophet, shall be cut off 24 from among the people." Yes, and all the prophets from Samuel, and those that succeeded, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these 25 days. You are the children of the prophets, and of the institution which God instituted with our fathers, saying to Abraham, "And in your seed 26 shall all the families of the earth be blessed." To you first, God having raised up his Son, has sent him to bless you; in turning every one of you from your iniquities.

IV. And while they were speaking to the people, the priests, the cap2 tain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees, came upon them; being grieved that they taught the people, and announced, through Jesus, the 3 resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and commit. 4 ted them into custody to the next day; for it was now evening. But many of those who had heard the word, believed; and the number of the men 5 was about five thousand. And the next day their rulers, elders, and 6 scribes, gathered together at Jerusalem: both Annas, the high priest, and Caiaphas; also John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the high 7 priest's kindred. And having set them in the midst, they inquired, By 8 what power, or in what name, have you done this? Then Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people, and elders of Israel; 9 if we are this day examined about the benefit conferred on the impotent 10 man, by what means he is healed; be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that through the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God has raised from the dead: yes, by HIM 11 this man stands before you hale. This is the stone which was set at 12 nought by you builders, that is become the head of the corner: and there is salvation in no other; for there is no other name under heaven given among men, by which we can be saved.

13

Now, when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and understood that they were illiterate men, and in private stations in life, they were 14 astonished, and recollected their having been with Jesus. And, seeing the man that was cured standing with them, they had nothing to say against 15 it. But having ordered them to withdraw out of the council, they con

16 ferred among themselves, saying, What shall we do with these men? for that indeed a signal miracle has been wrought by them, is manifest to all 17 the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. Nevertheless, that it may not spread any further among the people, let us charge them, with 18 the severest threats, to speak no more to any man in this name. And having called them, they charged them neither to speak nor teach any 19 more in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John, answering them, said,

Whether it be just in the sight of God, to obey you rather than God. 20 judge you for we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and 21 heard. And having threatened them again, they dismissed them, on

account of the people, finding nothing for which they might punish them; 22 because all the people glorified God for that which was done; for the man on whom this miracle of healing was wrought, was more than for. ty years old.

23 And being dismissed, they came to their own company, and related all 24 that the chief priests and elders had said to them. And when they heard

it, they lifted up their voice with one accord to God, and said, Lord, thou art the God who didst make heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all 25 things that are in them: who didst say by the mouth of thy servant Da26 vid, "Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The

kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers combined together 27 against the Lord, and against his anointed." For of a truth, against thy

holy Son Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pi28 late, with the heathen, and the people of Israel, have combined to do 29 what thy hand and thy counsel marked out before to be done. And

now, O Lord, regard their threatenings; and give to thy servants to 30 speak thy word with all freedom; whilst thou stretchest out thy hand to heal, and signs and wonders are doing through the name of thy holy Son 31 Jesus. And while they were praying, the place in which they were assembled was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with freedom.

32 Now the heart and soul of the multitude of believers was one: nor did any one call any of his possessions his own; but all things were common 83 amongst them. And with great power did the Apostles give forth their testimony concerning the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great kind34 ness was among them all. Neither was there one indigent person among them; for as many as were proprietors of lands or houses, sold them, and 35 brought the price of the things they sold, and laid it down at the feet of the Apostles; and distribution was made to each according to his need.

36

SECTION IV.

The Death of Ananias, and Sapphira, his Wife.

AND Joses, who by the Apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which being interpreted, signifies, a Son of Exhortation,) a Levite, and by birth a 37 Cyprian, having an estate, sold it, and brought the money and laid it V. down at the feet of the Apostles. But a certain man, named An2 anias, with Sapphira his wife, sold an estate, and secreted a part of the price, his wife also being privy to it; and bringing a certain part, he laid 3 it down at the feet of the Apostles. But Peter said, Ananías, why has Satan filled your heart, that you should attempt to impose on the Holy 4 Spirit, and to secrete a part of the price of the land? While it remained, did it not continue yours? and when it was sold, was it not at your own disposal? Why have you admitted this thing into your heart? You have 5 not lied to men, but to God. And Ananias hearing these words, fell down and expired: and great fear fell on all that heard these things. 6 Then the young men arose, and bound him up, and carrying him out, 7 they buried him. After the interval of about three hours, his wife 8 also, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter said to her, Tell me whether you sold the land for so much. And she said, Yes, for

9 much. Then Peter said to her, How is it that you have conspired together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold the feet of those who have been burying your husband are at the door, and they shall carry you 10 out. And, inmediately, she fell down at his feet, and expired: and the young men coming in, found her dead, and carried her out, and be11 ried her by her husband. And great fear came on all the assembly, and on all that heard these things.

12 And many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the Apostles, (and they were all unanimously in Solomon's 13 portico; and not one of the rest presumed to join himself to them, but 14 the people magnified them: and believers were more and more added to 15 the Lord, multitudes both of men and women :) insomuch that along the

streets they brought out the sick, and laid them on beds, and couches, that even the shadow of Peter, coming by, might overshadow some of 16 them. And multitudes also out of the cities round about, came together to Jerusalem, bringing the sick, and those that were troubled with unclean spirits, who were all healed.

But the high priest arising, and all they that were with him, being the 18 sect of the Sadducees, were filled with zeal, and laid their hands on the 19 Apostles, and put them into the common prison. But a messenger of the

Lord by night opened the doors of the prison, and bringing them out, 20 said, Go, and presenting yourselves in the temple, speak to the people all 21 the words of this life. And hearing this, they went very early into the temple, and taught. But the high priest being come, and they that were with him, they called together the Sanhedrim, even the whole Senate of the children of Israel and sent to the prison to have them 22 brought. But when the officers came, they found them not in the prison. Returning, therefore, they made their report, saying, We found, indeed. the prison shut with all safety, and the keepers standing before the door; but having opened them, we found no one within. Now when the high priest, and the captain of the temple guard, and the chief priests, heard 25 these words, they doubted concerning them, what this could be. But one came, and told them, Behold, the men, whom you put in prison, are stand26 ing in the temple, and teaching the people. Then the captain went, with the officers, and brought them, (not by violence; for they feared the peo 27 ple, lest they should be stoned:) and when they had brought them, they set them before the Sanhedrimi. And the high priest asked them, say. 28 ing, Did we not strictly charge you, that you should not teach in this name? and behold you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and 29 would bring this man's blood upon us. But Peter and the other Apostles 30 answered, and said, It is necessary to obey God rather than men. The

God of our fathers has raised up Jesus, whom you slew, hanging him on 31 a tree: HIM has God exalted at his right hand a Prince and Saviour, 32 to give reformation to Israel, and remission of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things, and the Holy Spirit also, whom God has given to them, who submit to his government.

33 And when they heard this, they were enraged, and consulted to put 34 them to death. But a certain Pharisee in the Sanhedrim, whose name

was Gamaliel, a doctor of law, in great esteem among all the people, rose 35 up, and commanded the Apostles to be taken out for a little while: and he said to then, Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you are about 36 to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas arose, pretending himself to be a person of note: to whom a number of men, about four hundred, adhered, who was slain; and all who hearkened to him were scattered, and 37 came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean arose, in the days of the enrolment, and drew a multitude of people after him, and be was de 38 stroyed; and all who hearkened to him were dispersed. And now, in the present case, I say to you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone; 39 leat perhaps you be found fighters against God: for if this design and work be of men, it will be defeated; but if it be of God, yon cannot de