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Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
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He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.
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“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.”
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and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus.
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Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)
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“For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms: “‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,’ and, “‘May another take his place of leadership.’
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Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us,
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Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
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Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?
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Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?
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Peter Addresses the Crowd
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.
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No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
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And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
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“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.
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David said about him: “‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
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Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope,
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because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay.
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“Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day.
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“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
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Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
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The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
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Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
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They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.
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Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,
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praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
