up to the day when he was taken up to heaven after giving orders by the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.

While he was meeting with them, he ordered them, "Don't leave Jerusalem. Instead, wait for what the Father has promised, about which you heard me speak,

After saying this, Jesus was taken up while those who had gathered together were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, two men in white robes stood right beside them.

"Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the voice of David about Judas, who was the guide for those who arrested Jesus,

because he was one of our number and was appointed to share in this ministry."

who was one of the men associated with us all the time the Lord Jesus came and went among us,

beginning when he was baptized by John until the day he was taken up from us. Therefore, someone like this must become a witness with us to his resurrection."

So they nominated two men Joseph called Barsabbas, who also was called Justus, and Matthias.

So they drew lots for them, and when the lot fell on Matthias, he was enrolled with the eleven apostles.

When the day of Pentecost was being celebrated, all of them were together in one place.

Rather, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

"Fellow Israelis, listen to these words: Jesus from Nazareth was a man authenticated to you by God through miracles, wonders, and signs that God performed through him among you, as you yourselves know.

After he was arrested according to the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified this very man and killed him using the hands of lawless men.

But God raised him up and put an end to suffering of death, since it was impossible for him to be held by it,

"Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and that his tomb is among us to this day.

Therefore, since he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him with an oath to put one of his descendants on his throne,

he looked ahead and spoke about the resurrection of the Messiah: "He was not abandoned to Hades, and his flesh did not experience decay.'

"It was this very Jesus whom God raised and we're all witnesses of that.

They made it their practice to sell their possessions and goods and to distribute the proceeds to anyone who was in need.

They were praising God and enjoying the good will of all the people. Every day the Lord was adding to their number those who were being saved.

Now a man who had been crippled from birth was being carried in. Every day people would lay him at what was called the Beautiful Gate so that he could beg from those who were going into the Temple.

they knew that he was the man who used to sit and beg at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

While he was holding on to Peter and John, all the people came running to them in what was called "Solomon's Colonnade". They were dumbfounded.

So they arrested them and placed them in custody until the next day, since it was already evening.

If we are being questioned today for a good deed done for someone who was sick or to learn how this man was healed,

He is "the stone that was rejected by you builders, which has become the cornerstone.'

And seeing the man who was healed standing with them, they could not say anything against them.

since the man on whom this sign of healing had been performed was more than 40 years old.

When they had prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken, and all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak messages from God boldly.

With great power, the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was on them all,

and lay it at the apostles' feet. Then it was distributed to anyone who needed it.

One man, Joseph, a descendant of Levi and a native of Cyprus, who was named Barnabas by the apostles (the name means "a son of encouragement"),

As long as it remained unsold, wasn't it your own? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? So how could you have thought of doing what you did? You didn't lie only to men, but also to God!"

So Peter asked her, "Tell me, did you sell the land for that price?" She answered, "Yes, that was the price."

But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law who was respected by all the people, stood up in the Council and ordered the men to be taken outside for a little while.

For in the recent past Theudas appeared, claiming that he was important, and about 400 men joined him. He was killed, and all his followers were dispersed and disappeared.

In those days, as the number of the disciples was growing larger and larger, a complaint was made by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food.

Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.

But some men who belonged to the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), as well as some Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and men from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and began to debate with Stephen.

Then everyone who was seated in the Council glared at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

"The glorious God appeared to our ancestor Abraham while he was in Mesopotamia before he settled in Haran. God told him, "Leave your country and your relatives and go to the land I'll show you.'

"Joseph's brothers became jealous of him and sold Joseph as a slave in Egypt. However, God was with him

But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our ancestors on their first trip.

"At this time Moses was born. He was beautiful in the sight of God, and for three months he was cared for in his father's house.

When he was placed outside, Pharaoh's daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son.

"When he was 40 years old, he decided to visit his brothers, the descendants of Israel.

When he saw one of them being mistreated, he defended him and avenged the man who was being mistreated by killing the Egyptian.

He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was using him to rescue them, but they didn't understand.

"But the man who was harming his neighbor pushed Moses away and said, "Who made you ruler and judge over us?

When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight, and when he approached the bush to look at it, the voice of the Lord said,

"This same Moses whom they rejected by saying, "Who made you ruler and judge?' was the man whom God sent to be both their ruler and deliverer with the help of the angel who had appeared to him in the bush.

It was he who led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for 40 years.

It was this Moses who told the Israelis, "God will raise up a prophet for you from among your own brothers, just as he did me.'

This Moses is the one who was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai and to our ancestors. He received living truths to give to us,

Our ancestors brought it here with Joshua when they replaced the nations that God drove out in front of our ancestors, and it was here until the time of David.

but it was Solomon who built a house for him.

It was my hand that made all these things, wasn't it?'"

Now Saul heartily approved of putting Stephen to death. That day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and everyone except for the apostles was scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria.

The crowds, hearing his message and seeing the signs that he was doing, paid close attention to what was said by Philip.

As a result, there was great rejoicing in that city.

Now in that city there was a man named Simon. He was practicing occult arts and thrilling the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great.

Even Simon believed, and after he was baptized he became devoted to Philip. He was amazed to see the signs and great miracles that were happening.

Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money

So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, who was a member of the court of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He was in charge of all her treasures and had come up to Jerusalem to worship.

Now he was returning home, seated in his chariot, and reading from the prophet Isaiah.

This was the passage of Scripture he was reading: "Like a sheep he was led away to be slaughtered, and like a lamb is silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth.

In his humiliation, justice was denied him. Who can describe his descendants? For his life is taken away from the earth."

But Philip found himself at Azotus. As he was passing through that region, he kept proclaiming the good news in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

As Saul traveled along and was approaching Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him.

Now in Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called out to him in a vision, "Ananias!" He answered, "Here I am, Lord."

He got up and was baptized, and after eating some food, he felt strong again. For several days he stayed with the disciples in Damascus.

Everyone who heard him was astonished and said, "This is the man who harassed those who were calling on Jesus' name in Jerusalem, isn't it? Didn't he come here to bring them in chains to the high priests?"

But Saul grew more and more persuasive, and continued to confound the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that this man was the Messiah.

When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they all were afraid of him because they wouldn't believe he was a disciple.

Now when Peter was going around among all of the disciples, he also visited the saints living in Lydda.

There he found a man named Aeneas who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years.

In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was known for her good actions and acts of charity that she was always doing.

Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him and begged him, "Come here quickly!"

So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they took him upstairs. All the widows gathered around Peter, crying and showing him all the shirts and coats Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

Now in Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment.

He was a devout man who feared God, as did everyone in his home. He gave many gifts to the poor among the people and always prayed to God.

He became very hungry and wanted to eat, and while the food was being prepared, he fell into a trance

This happened three times. Then the sheet was quickly taken back into heaven.

While Peter was still at a loss to know what the vision he had seen could mean, the men sent by Cornelius asked for Simon's house and went to the gate.

They called out and asked if Simon who was called Peter was staying there.

Peter was still thinking about the vision when the Spirit told him, "Look! Three men are looking for you.

The men replied, "Cornelius, a centurion and an upright and God-fearing man who is respected by the whole Jewish nation, was instructed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his home to hear what you have to say."

The next day, they arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called his relatives and close friends together.

When Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him, bowed down at his feet, and began to worship him.

and that is why I didn't hesitate when I was sent for. Now may I ask why you sent for me?"

Cornelius replied, "Four days ago at this very hour, three o'clock in the afternoon, I was praying in my home. All at once a man in radiant clothes stood in front of me

So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. All of us are here now in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has ordered you to say."

God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and because God was with him, he went around doing good and healing everyone who was oppressed by the devil.

While Peter was still making this statement, the Holy Spirit fell on all the people who were listening to his message.

"I was in the town of Joppa praying when in a trance I saw a vision: Something like a large linen sheet descended down from heaven, lowered by its four corners, and it came right down to me.

This happened three times. Then everything was pulled back up to heaven.

"When I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as he was first given to us.

Now if God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, who was I to try to stop God?"

The hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number of people believed and turned to the Lord.