The New Testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Part 27

(16)He says to him again a second time: Simon, son of Jonah, lovest thou me? He says to him: Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He says to him: Tend my sheep.

(17)He says to him the third time: Simon, son of Jonah, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said to him: Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus says to him: Feed my sheep.

(18)Verily, verily, I say to thee, when thou wast young, thou didst gird thyself, and walk whither thou wouldst; but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and lead thee whither thou wouldst not. (19)And this he spoke, signifying by what manner of death he should glorify G.o.d.

And having spoken this, he says to him: Follow me. (20)Peter, turning about, sees the disciple whom Jesus loved following; who also at the supper leaned back on his breast, and said: Lord, who is he that betrays thee? (21)Peter seeing him says to Jesus: Lord, and what shall this man do? (22)Jesus says to him: If I will that he remain till I come, what is it to thee? Do thou follow me.

(23)This saying therefore went abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die. And Jesus said not to him, that he should not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is it to thee?

(24)This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true. (25)And there are also many other things which Jesus did; and if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that should be written.

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES.

I.

THE former narration I made, O Theophilus, concerning all things that Jesus began both to do and to teach, (2)until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commandment, through the Holy Spirit, to the apostles whom he chose; (3)to whom also he showed himself living, after he had suffered, by many infallible proofs, during forty days appearing to them, and speaking the things concerning the kingdom of G.o.d.

(4)And, being a.s.sembled together with them, he commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which ye heard from me; (5)for John indeed immersed in water; but ye shall be immersed in the Holy Spirit, not many days hence.

(6)They therefore, having come together[1:6], asked him, saying: Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? (7)And he said to them: It is not yours to know times or seasons, which the Father appointed by his own authority[1:7]. (8)But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you; and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and Samaria, and unto the utmost part of the earth.

(9)And having spoken these things, while they beheld he was borne up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. (10)And while they were looking intently into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; (11)who also said: Men of Galilee, why stand ye looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye saw him going into heaven.

(12)Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey. (13)And when they came in, they went up into the upper room, where were abiding both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alpheus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. (14)These all continued with one accord in prayer, with women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

(15)And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren, and said (the number of names together was about a hundred and twenty): (16)Men, brethren, it was necessary that the scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit by the mouth of David spoke before concerning Judas, who became guide to those who took Jesus.

(17)Because he was numbered with us, and obtained the office of this ministry.--(18)Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. (19)And it became known to all who dwell at Jerusalem; so that that field was called, in their own tongue, Aceldama, that is, Field of blood.--(20)For it is written in the book of Psalms:

Let his habitation be made desolate, And let no one dwell therein.

And:

Let another take his office[1:20].

(21)Therefore, of these men, who accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, (22)beginning from John's immersion, unto the day when he was taken up from us, must one be made 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, saying: Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all, show which of these two thou didst choose, (25)that he may take part in this ministry and apostles.h.i.+p, from which Judas by transgression fell away, that he might go to his own place.

(26)And they gave their lots[1:26]; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

II.

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 out of heaven as of a rus.h.i.+ng mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. (3)And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed among them; and it sat upon each of them. (4)And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

(5)Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem, Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. (6)And this being noised abroad[2:6], the mult.i.tude came together, and were confounded, because every man heard them speak in his own language. (7)And all were amazed, and wondered, saying one to another Behold, are not all these who speak Galilaeans?

(8)And how do we hear, every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born, (9)Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and those who inhabit Mesopotamia, Judaea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, (10)Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, both Jews and proselytes, (11)Cretes and Arabians, hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of G.o.d? (12)And all were amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another: What may this mean?

(13)But others mocking said: They are filled with sweet wine.

(14)But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said to them: Men of Judaea, and all that dwell in Jerusalem, be this known to you, and hearken to my words. (15)For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, for it is the third hour of the day. (16)But this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

(17)And it shall be in the last days, saith G.o.d, That 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 even on my servants and on my handmaids, I will pour out of my Spirit in those days, And they shall prophesy.

(19)And I will show wonders in heaven above, And signs in the earth beneath, Blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke.

(20)The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the great and notable day of the Lord shall come.

(21)And it shall be, that every one who shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

(22)Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus the Nazarene, a man accredited to you from G.o.d by miracles, and wonders, and signs, which G.o.d wrought by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves know; (23)this man, delivered up according to the established counsel and foreknowledge of G.o.d, ye slew, crucifying him by the hand of lawless ones; (24)whom G.o.d raised up, having loosed the pains of death; because it was not possible that he should be held by it. (25)For David says concerning him:

I saw the Lord always before me; Because he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved.

(26)For this my heart rejoiced, and my tongue exulted; Moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope; (27)Because thou wilt not abandon my soul to the underworld, Nor wilt thou suffer thy Holy One to see corruption.

(28)Thou didst make known to me the ways of life; Thou wilt make me full of joy with thy presence.

(29)Men, brethren, I may speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his sepulchre is among us unto this day. (30)Being a prophet, therefore, and knowing that G.o.d swore to him, with an oath, that of the fruit of his loins one should sit on his throne, (31)he, foreseeing, spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was his soul abandoned to the underworld, nor did his flesh see corruption.

(32)This Jesus G.o.d raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. (33)Being therefore exalted to the right hand of G.o.d, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he poured forth this, which ye now see and hear. (34)For David did not ascend into heaven; but he says himself:

The Lord said to my Lord, Sit on my right hand, (35)Until I make thy foes thy footstool.

(36)Therefore let all the house of Israel know a.s.suredly, that G.o.d made him, this Jesus whom ye crucified, both Lord and Christ.

(37)And hearing this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: Men, brethren, what shall we do?

(38)And Peter said to them: Repent, and be each of you immersed, upon the name of Jesus Christ, unto remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (39)For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all those afar off, as many as the Lord our G.o.d shall have called.

(40)And with many other words did he bear witness and exhort, saying: Save yourselves from this perverse generation.

(41)They therefore, having received[2:41] his word, were immersed and on that day there were added about three thousand souls. (42)And they were constantly attending on the teaching of the apostles, and the distribution, and the breaking of bread, and prayers. (43)And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs were wrought through the apostles. (44)And all that believed were together, and had all things common; (45)and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as any one had need. (46)And daily attending with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they partook of food with gladness and singleness of heart, (47)praising G.o.d, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who are saved[2:47].

III.

AND Peter and John were going up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. (2)And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried along, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple, the one called Beautiful, to ask alms of those entering into the temple; (3)who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked alms. (4)And Peter, looking intently upon him, with John, said: Look upon us. (5)And he gave heed to them, expecting to receive something from them. (6)And Peter said: Silver and gold have I none; but what I have, that I give thee. In the name of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene, rise up and walk. (7)And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up. And immediately his feet and ankles received strength; (8)and leaping forth, he stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising G.o.d. (9)And all the people saw him walking and praising G.o.d; (10)and they recognized him, that this was he who sat for alms at the beautiful gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened to him.

(11)And as he held fast to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.

(12)And Peter, seeing it, answered to the people: Men of Israel, why wonder ye at this? Or why look ye so intently on us, as though by our own power or G.o.dliness we had made this man to walk? (13)The G.o.d of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the G.o.d of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he decided to release him. (14)But ye denied the Holy and Just, and demanded that a murderer should be granted to you. (15)But the Author of life ye killed; whom G.o.d raised from the dead, whereof we are witnesses[3:15]. (16)And his name, upon the faith in his name, made this man strong, whom ye see and know; and the faith, which is through Him, gave him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

(17)And now, brethren, I know that ye acted in ignorance, as also your rulers. (18)But thus G.o.d fulfilled what he before announced by the mouth of all his prophets, that the Christ should suffer. (19)Repent therefore, and turn, that your sins may be blotted out, in order that the times of refres.h.i.+ng may come from the presence of the Lord; (20)and that he may send forth Jesus Christ, before appointed for you; (21)whom the heavens, indeed, must receive, until the times of the restoration of all things, which G.o.d spoke of by the mouth of all his holy prophets from the beginning. (22)Moses said: A Prophet will the Lord your G.o.d raise up to you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatever he shall say to you. (23)And it shall be that every soul, that will not hear that Prophet, shall be utterly destroyed from among the people. (24)And also all the prophets from Samuel, both he and they who followed, as many as spoke, also foretold these days.

(25)Ye are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which G.o.d made with our fathers, saying to Abraham: And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. (26)Unto you first, G.o.d, having raised up his servant Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.

IV.

AND while they were speaking to the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, (2)being indignant because they taught the people, and announced in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. (3)And they laid hands on them, and put them in prison unto the morrow; for it was now evening.