1 The former treatise
have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do
and teach,
2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through
the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom
he had chosen:
3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by
many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking
of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that
they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise
of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized
with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him,
saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom
to Israel?
7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times
or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come
upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem,
and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part
of the earth.
9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he
was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went
up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up
into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into
heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go
into heaven.
12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet,
which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.
13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room,
where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip,
and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus,
and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication,
with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples,
and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred
and twenty,)
16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled,
which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning
Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this
ministry.
18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity;
and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all
his bowels gushed out.
19 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch
as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that
is to say, The field of blood.
20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation
be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick
let another take.
21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the
time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that
he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness
with us of his resurrection.
23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed
Justus, and Matthias.
24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the
hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from
which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own
place.
26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias;
and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Chapter 2
1 And when the
day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord
in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing
mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire,
and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to
speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out
of every nation under heaven.
6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together,
and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak
in his own language.
7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another,
Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were
born?
9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia,
and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya
about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues
the wonderful works of God.
12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to
another, What meaneth this?
13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice,
and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell
at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but
the third hour of the day.
16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17 And it shall come to pass 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 on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out
in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the
earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into
blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the
name of the Lord shall be saved.
22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a
man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs,
which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also
know:
23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge
of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and
slain:
24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death:
because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always
before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not
be moved:
26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover
also my flesh shall rest in hope:
27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt
thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make
me full of joy with thy countenance.
29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch
David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is
with us unto this day.
30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn
with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according
to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ,
that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see
corruption.
32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having
received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath
shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith
himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that
God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both
Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart,
and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and
brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every
one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of
sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to
all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall
call.
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying,
Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and
the same day there were added unto them about three thousand
souls.
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and
fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs
were done by the apostles.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to
all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple,
and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with
gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And
the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. |