Book of Common Prayer

³⁷ What Peter said cut the people's hearts when they heard it. They knew they had done wrong. They said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, `Brothers, what shall we do?'

³⁸ `Stop your wrong ways and turn back to God,' answered Peter. `And then everyone of you can be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ. Your wrong ways will be forgiven you, and you will receive the Holy Spirit.

³⁹ This promise is for you and your children and for all those whom the Lord our God calls, even though they are far away.'

⁴⁰ Peter went on talking and teaching the people. `Do not follow the wrong ways of people today,' he begged.

⁴¹ Then those who gladly received his words and believed were baptised. That same day about three thousand new believers joined them.

⁴² They kept on being taught by the apostles. And they kept on being with them. They ate bread together and talked with God.

⁴³ All the people were very much surprised. Many wonderful things and signs were done by the apostles.

⁴⁴ All the believers were together; and everything they had was for the use of all.

⁴⁵ They sold their things and divided the money among the believers. They gave each person what he needed. 46,

^46-47 nd every day the believers kept on gathering in the temple. They ate bread in each other's homes. They ate their food gladly and with open hearts. They praised God. All the people respected them. Day by day, the Lord added to the church those who were saved.

⁵ Some people were talking about how nice the temple looked. They talked about the fine stones and the things people gave to make the temple.

⁶ Jesus said, `You see these things. Not one stone here will be left on top of another. They will all be thrown down!'

⁷ They asked him, `Teacher, when will this happen? What will be the sign when these things are going to be done?

⁸ He said, `Take care. Do not let anyone fool you. Many men will come in my name. They will say, "I am Christ." And they will say, "The time is now." Do not go after them.

⁹ When you hear about wars and fighting, do not fear. These things must happen first, but it is not the end right away.'

¹⁰ Then he said, `One tribe will fight against another tribe. And one country will fight against another country.

¹¹ In some places the earth will shake very much. In many places the people will have no food to eat. And many people will be sick. There will be things to make people fear. There will be big signs in the sky.

¹² `But before all these things happen, people will catch you and trouble you. They will take you to the meeting houses to be judged. They will put you in prison. They will take you to kings and rulers because you are true to me.

¹³ This will be a chance for you to talk about me.

¹⁴ So do not trouble your minds about what you will say.

¹⁵ I will give you words and sense. All those who are against you will not be able to answer your words or say they are not true.

¹⁶ Even your parents, brothers, family people, and friends will give you over to trouble. They will kill some of you.

¹⁷ All people will hate you because you are true to me.

¹⁸ But you will not lose one hair from your heads.

¹⁹ If you keep on being true to me, you will live for ever.'