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After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.
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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.
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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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(With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out.
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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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So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.
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Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.
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Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?
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(both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”
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These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!
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No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
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“‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
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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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This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.
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But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.
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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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But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne.
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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.
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God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.
