They

So when they came together, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

So when they came together, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

After He had said this, they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.

They were looking intently into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.

“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near the city, a Sabbath day’s journey away.

When they arrived, they went to the upper room where they were staying: Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.

When they arrived, they went to the upper room where they were staying: Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.

When they arrived, they went to the upper room where they were staying: Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.

With one accord they all continued in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

This became known to all who lived in Jerusalem, so they called that field in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.

And they prayed, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen

Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias. So he was added to the eleven apostles.

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.

Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.

They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Astounded and amazed, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?

Astounded and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

But others mocked them and said, “They are drunk on new wine!”

Even on My menservants and maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need.

With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart,

…they recognized him as the man who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

…they recognized him as the man who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

…greatly disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.

They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in custody until the next day.

They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in custody until the next day.

They had Peter and John brought in and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus.

When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus.

When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus.

And seeing the man who had been healed standing there with them, they had nothing to say in response.

So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin and then conferred together.

“What shall we do with these men?” they asked. “It is clear to everyone living in Jerusalem that a remarkable miracle has occurred through them, and we cannot deny it.

Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

After further threats they let them go. They could not find a way to punish them, because all the people were glorifying God for what had happened.

After further threats they let them go. They could not find a way to punish them, because all the people were glorifying God for what had happened.

When the believers heard this, they lifted up their voices to God with one accord. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “You made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them.

When the believers heard this, they lifted up their voices to God with one accord. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “You made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them.

They carried out what Your hand and will had decided beforehand would happen.

After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

The multitude of believers was one in heart and soul. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they owned.

The multitude of believers was one in heart and soul. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they owned.

“How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?” Peter replied. “Look, the feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

Then the high priest and all his associates, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They went out

At daybreak the apostles entered the temple courts as they had been told and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles.

At daybreak the apostles entered the temple courts as they had been told and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles.

But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they returned with the report:

When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this account, they were perplexed as to what was happening.

They brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, where the high priest interrogated them.

When the Council members heard this, they were enraged, and they resolved to put the apostles to death.

When the Council members heard this, they were enraged, and they resolved to put the apostles to death.

At this, they yielded to Gamaliel. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them.

At this, they yielded to Gamaliel. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them.

At this, they yielded to Gamaliel. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them.

The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.

Every day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, as well as Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.

They presented these seven to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

But resistance arose from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and men from the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. They disputed with Stephen,

…but they could not stand up to his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.

Then they prompted some men to say, “We heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.”

So they stirred up the people, elders, and scribes and confronted Stephen. They seized him and brought him before the Sanhedrin,

So they stirred up the people, elders, and scribes and confronted Stephen. They seized him and brought him before the Sanhedrin,

…where they presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.

All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

God told him that his descendants would be foreigners in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.

‘But I will punish the nation that enslaves them,’ God said, ‘and afterward they will come forth and worship Me in this place.’

Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him

He exploited our people and oppressed our fathers, forcing them to abandon their infants so they would die.

He assumed his brothers would understand that God was using him to deliver them, but they did not.

This Moses, whom they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’ is the one whom God sent to be their ruler and redeemer through the angel who appeared to him in the bush.

But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.

They said to Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us! As for this Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.’

At that time they made a calf and offered a sacrifice to the idol, rejoicing in the works of their hands.

And our fathers who received it brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations God drove out before them. It remained until the time of David,

Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers—

On hearing this, the members of the Sanhedrin were enraged, and they gnashed their teeth at him.

At this they covered their ears, cried out in a loud voice, and rushed together at him.

They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.

While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.

The crowds all paid close attention to Philip’s message and to the signs they saw him perform.

They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery.

But when they believed Philip as he preached the gospel of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

But when they believed Philip as he preached the gospel of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.

On their arrival, they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit.

For the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

And after Peter and John had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many of the Samaritan villages.

As they traveled along the road and came to some water, the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is there to prevent me from being baptized?”

When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing.

The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless. They heard the voice but did not see anyone.

Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could not see a thing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.