Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve apostles, went to the chief priests

The apostles now returned to Jesus from their tour and told him all they had done and what they had said to the people they visited.

At daybreak he called together his followers and chose twelve of them to be the inner circle of his disciples. (They were appointed as his “apostles,” or “missionaries.”)

His apostles asked him what the story meant.

One day Jesus called together his twelve apostles and gave them authority over all demons—power to cast them out—and to heal all diseases.

After the apostles returned to Jesus and reported what they had done, he slipped quietly away with them toward the city of Bethsaida.

“This is what God says about you: ‘I will send prophets and apostles to you, and you will kill some of them and chase away the others.’

One day the apostles said to the Lord, “We need more faith; tell us how to get it.”

Dear friend who loves God: In my first letter I told you about Jesus’ life and teachings and how he returned to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions from the Holy Spirit.

During the forty days after his crucifixion he appeared to the apostles from time to time, actually alive, and proved to them in many ways that it was really he himself they were seeing. And on these occasions he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.

Judas was one of us, chosen to be an apostle just as we were.

Then they all prayed for the right man to be chosen. “O Lord,” they said, “you know every heart; show us which of these men you have chosen as an apostle to replace Judas the traitor, who has gone on to his proper place.”

Then they drew straws, and in this manner Matthias was chosen and became an apostle with the other eleven.

Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen, all of you, visitors and residents of Jerusalem alike!

These words of Peter’s moved them deeply, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

They joined with the other believers in regular attendance at the apostles’ teaching sessions and at the Communion services and prayer meetings.

A deep sense of awe was on them all, and the apostles did many miracles.

And the apostles preached powerful sermons about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and there was warm fellowship among all the believers,

and no poverty—for all who owned land or houses sold them and brought the money to the apostles to give to others in need.

For instance, there was Joseph (the one the apostles nicknamed “Barnabas, the encourager.” He was of the tribe of Levi, from the island of Cyprus).

He was one of those who sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles for distribution to those in need.

Meanwhile, the apostles were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as Solomon’s Hall, and they did many remarkable miracles among the people.

and arrested the apostles, and put them in the public jail.

They arrived at the Temple about daybreak and immediately began preaching! Later that morning the High Priest and his courtiers arrived at the Temple, and, convening the Jewish Council and the entire Senate, they sent for the apostles to be brought for trial.

But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.