until the day he was taken up to heaven. Before Jesus left, he gave orders to the apostles he had chosen. He did this through the Holy Spirit.

Then the apostles gathered around Jesus and asked him a question. “Lord,” they said, “are you going to give the kingdom back to Israel now?”

After Jesus said this, he was taken up to heaven. The apostles watched until a cloud hid him from their sight.

Matthias Is Chosen to Take the Place of Judas Iscariot

The apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives. It is just over half a mile from the city.

Show us who should take the place of Judas as an apostle. He gave up being an apostle to go where he belongs.”

Then they cast lots. Matthias was chosen. So he was added to the 11 apostles.

Peter Speaks to the Crowd

Then Peter stood up with the 11 apostles. In a loud voice he spoke to the crowd. “My fellow Jews,” he said, “let me explain this to you. All of you who live in Jerusalem, listen carefully to what I say.

When the people heard this, it had a deep effect on them. They said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

The Believers Share Their Lives Together

The believers studied what the apostles taught. They shared their lives together. They ate and prayed together.

Everyone was amazed at what God was doing. They were amazed when the apostles performed many wonders and signs.

Peter and John Are Taken to the Sanhedrin

Peter and John were speaking to the people. The priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees came up to the apostles.

They were very upset by what the apostles were teaching the people. The apostles were saying that people can be raised from the dead. They said this can happen because Jesus rose from the dead.

With great power the apostles continued their teaching. They were telling people that the Lord Jesus had risen from the dead. And God’s grace was working powerfully in all of them.

They put it down at the apostles’ feet. It was then given out to anyone who needed it.

Joseph was a Levite from Cyprus. The apostles called him Barnabas. The name Barnabas means Son of Help.

Barnabas sold a field he owned. He brought the money from the sale. He put it down at the apostles’ feet.

He kept part of the money for himself. Sapphira knew he had kept it. He brought the rest of it and put it down at the apostles’ feet.

The Apostles Heal Many People

The apostles did many signs and wonders among the people. All the believers used to meet together at Solomon’s Porch.

The Apostles Are Treated Badly

The high priest and all his companions were Sadducees. They were very jealous of the apostles.

But during the night an angel of the Lord came. He opened the doors of the jail and brought the apostles out.

Early the next day they did as they had been told. They entered the temple courtyard. There they began to teach the people. The high priest and his companions arrived. They called the Sanhedrin together. The Sanhedrin was a gathering of all the elders of Israel. They sent for the apostles who were in jail.

The officers arrived at the jail. But they didn’t find the apostles there. So they went back and reported it.

So the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles back. But they didn’t use force. They were afraid the people would kill them by throwing stones at them.

They brought the apostles to the Sanhedrin. The high priest questioned them.

Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God instead of people!

When the leaders heard this, they became very angry. They wanted to put the apostles to death.

But a Pharisee named Gamaliel stood up in the Sanhedrin. He was a teacher of the law. He was honored by all the people. He ordered the apostles to be taken outside for a little while.

His speech won the leaders over. They called the apostles in and had them whipped. The leaders ordered them not to speak in Jesus’ name. Then they let the apostles go.

The apostles were full of joy as they left the Sanhedrin. They considered it an honor to suffer shame for the name of Jesus.

So the 12 apostles gathered all the believers together. They said, “It wouldn’t be right for us to give up teaching God’s word. And we’d have to stop teaching to wait on tables.

The group brought them to the apostles. Then the apostles prayed and placed their hands on them.

And Saul had agreed with the Sanhedrin that Stephen should die.

The Church Is Treated Badly and Scattered

On that day the church in Jerusalem began to be attacked and treated badly. All except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.

The apostles in Jerusalem heard that people in Samaria had accepted God’s word. So they sent Peter and John to Samaria.

Simon watched as the apostles placed their hands on them. He saw that the Spirit was given to them. So he offered money to Peter and John.

But Barnabas took him to the apostles. He told them about Saul’s journey. He said that Saul had seen the Lord. He told how the Lord had spoken to Saul. Barnabas also said that Saul had preached without fear in Jesus’ name in Damascus.

Peter Explains His Actions

The apostles and the believers all through Judea heard that Gentiles had also received God’s word.

The people of the city did not agree with one another. Some were on the side of the Jews. Others were on the side of the apostles.

But the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard about this. So they tore their clothes. They rushed out into the crowd. They shouted,

But Paul and Barnabas didn’t agree with this. They argued strongly with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed to go up to Jerusalem. Some other believers were chosen to go with them. They were told to ask the apostles and elders about this question.

When they arrived in Jerusalem, the church welcomed them. The apostles and elders welcomed them too. Then Paul and Barnabas reported everything God had done through them.

The apostles and elders met to consider this question.

A Letter Is Written to Gentile Believers

Then the apostles, the elders and the whole church decided what to do. They would choose some of their own men who were leaders among the believers. They would send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. So they chose Judas Barsabbas and Silas. They were leaders among the believers.

Here is the letter they sent with them. The apostles and elders, your brothers, are writing this letter. We are sending it to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia. Greetings.

Paul and his companions traveled from town to town. They reported what the apostles and elders in Jerusalem had decided. The people were supposed to obey what was in the report.