1 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 Israel, were gather28 ed 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 boldness, 30 while thou stretchest forth thy hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of thy holy 31 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. 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; but they had all things 33 common. And with great power gave the apostles their witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus2: and great grace was upon them all. 34 For neither was there among them any that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands 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. And Joseph, who by the 36 apostles was surnamed Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, Son of exhortation), a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race, having a field, sold it, 37 and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet. But a certain man named 1 5 Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and 2 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 Peter said, Ananias, 3 why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, did it not 4 remain 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 5 words fell 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. And 8 And it was about the space 7 of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much. And she said, Yea, for so much. But Peter 9 said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to 1 Gr. bondservants. 2 Some ancient authorities add Christ. consolation 4 Or, deceive 5 Gr. younger. 3 Or, tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and they shall 10 carry thee out. And she fell down immediately at his feet, and gave up the ghost: and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her 11 by her husband. And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all that heard these things. 12 put them in public ward. And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon's 13 porch. But of the rest durst no man join himself to them: howbeit the people magnified 14 them; 1and believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and 15 women; insomuch that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that, as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow 16 some one of them. And there also came together the multi-ye put in prison are in the tude from the cities round temple standing and teaching about Jerusalem, bringing the people. Then went the 26 sick folk, and them that were captain with the officers, and vexed with unclean spirits: brought them, but without and they were healed every violence; for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. And when they had 27 brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, say- 28 ing, We straitly charged you not to teach in this name: 17 one. But the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were 18 filled with jealousy, and laid hands on the apostles, and 1 Or, and there were the more added to them, believing on the Lord and behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man's 29 blood upon us. But Peter and the apostles answered and said, We must obey God 30 rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew, hanging him 31 on a tree. Him did God exalt 1with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins. 32 And we are witnesses 2 of these 3 things; and so is the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. 33 But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and were minded to slay them. 34 But there stood up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in honour of all the people, and commanded to put the 35 men forth a little while. And he said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves as touching these men, what 36 ye are about to do. For before these days rose up Theudas, giving 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 dispersed, and came to nought. 37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the enrolment, and drew away 1 Or, at some of the people after him: he also perished; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad. And now 38 I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will be overthrown: but if it is of God, 39 ye will not be able to overthrow them; lest haply ye be found even to be fighting against God. And to him 40 they agreed: and when they had 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 de- 41 parted from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonour for the Name. And every day, in 42 the temple and at home, they ceased not to teach and to preach Jesus as the Christ. Now in these days, when 16 the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring of the 5 Grecian Jews against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. And the twelve 2 called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not fit that we should forsake the word of God, and 7serve tables. Look ye out 3 therefore, brethren, from among you seven men of good 2 Some ancient authorities add in him. 3 Gr. sayings. Ghost to them 4 Some ancient anthorities read and God hath given the 7 Or, minister to that obey him. 5 Gr. Hellenists. 6 Gr. pleasing. tables among you. 8 Some ancient authorities read, But, brethren, look ye out from report, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4 But we will continue stedfastly in prayer, and in the 5 ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas 6 proselyte of Antioch: whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them: 7 a 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. 3 And Stephen, full of grace and power, wrought great wonders and signs among 9 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 Cilicia and Asia, disputing 10 with Stephen. And they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by 11 which he spake. Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. 12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and seized him, and brought him into the council, and set up false witnesses, 13 which said, This man ceaseth not to speak words against this holy place, and the law: for we have heard him say, 14 that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered unto us. And all that sat in the 15 council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel. And the high priest said, 17 Are these things so? And he 2 said, Brethren and fathers, hearken. The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said unto him, 3 Get thee out of thy land, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee. Then came he out 4 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 dwell: and he gave him none 5 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 seed after him, when as yet he had no child. And God spake on 6 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. And the nation to which they 7 shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place. 8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob the twelve patriarchs. 9 And the patriarchs, moved with jealousy against Joseph, sold him into Egypt: and 10 God was with him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom before Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. 11 Now there came a famine over all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance. 12 But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent forth our fathers the 13 first time. And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's race became manifest unto 14 Pharaoh. And Joseph sent, and called to him Jacob his father, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls. 15 And Jacob went down into Egypt; and he died, himself, 16 and our fathers; and they were carried over unto Shechem, and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a price in silver of the sons of 17 1 Hamor in Shechem. But as the time of the promise drew nigh, which God vouchsafed unto Abraham, the people 1 Gr. Emmor. 2 Or, he 3 Gr. be preserved alive. 4 Or, fair unto God |