On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

“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.”

The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

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

The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.

Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay.

All the believers were together and had everything in common.

By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.

Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.’

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

The Choosing of the Seven

In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves,’ God said, ‘and afterward they will come out of that country and worship me in this place.’

I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.’

Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him—

because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

“How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”

Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”

Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.

Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?”