Beginning
1 I made the first account about everything, O Theophilus, which Jesus began both to do and teach 2 until which day He was taken-up [after] having given-commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom He chose— 3 to whom He indeed presented Himself alive after His suffering by many convincing-proofs, appearing[a] to them during forty days, and speaking the things concerning the kingdom of God.
Jesus Ascends After Directing His Apostles To Be His Witnesses By The Spirit’s Power
4 And being assembled-with[b] them, He ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait-for the promise of the Father “which you heard from Me. 5 Because John baptized with[c] water, but you will be baptized with[d] the Holy Spirit after these not many days!” 6 So indeed the ones having come together were asking Him, saying “Lord, are You restoring[e] the kingdom to Israel at this time?”. 7 And He said to them, “It is not yours to know the times or seasons which the Father appointed[f] by His own authority. 8 But you will receive power, the Holy Spirit having come upon you. And you will be My witnesses— both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and as far as the last place of the earth”. 9 And having said these things, while they were looking He was lifted-up. And a cloud received[g] Him from their eyes. 10 And as they were looking-intently into heaven, while He was going— and behold, two men in white clothing were standing near them, 11 who also said, “Galilean men, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus having been taken-up from you into heaven will come in this manner— the way you saw Him going into heaven”.
The Apostles Return to Jerusalem And Await The Holy Spirit In Prayer
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain being called ‘of Olives’, which is near Jerusalem (having a Sabbath’s day journey[h]). 13 And when they went in the city, they went up to the upper-room where they were staying— both Peter and John, and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 14 These all were devoting-themselves with-one-accord to prayer, along with women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers.
Peter Suggests That According To Scripture, Judas Should Be Replaced
15 And during these days, Peter, having stood up in the midst of the brothers (and the crowd of names at the same place was about one-hundred twenty), said, 16 “Men, brothers, the Scripture had-to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke-beforehand through the mouth of David concerning Judas, the one having become a guide for the ones having arrested Jesus, 17 because[i] he was numbered among us, and received his share of this ministry”. (18 Now indeed this one acquired a field with the wages of unrighteousness[j]. And having become prostrate[k], he burst-open in the middle and all his inward-parts spilled-out. 19 And it became known to all the ones dwelling-in Jerusalem, so that that field was called ‘Hakeldama’ in their own language, that is, ‘Field of Blood’). 20 “For it has been written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his residence become desolate[l], and let there not be the one dwelling in it’ [Ps 69:25], and ‘let another take his office’ [Ps 109:8]. 21 Therefore, from the men having accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and went out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day that He was taken-up from us— one of these must become a witness of His resurrection with us”.
Matthias Is Chosen
23 And they put-forward two: Joseph (the one being called Barsabbas, who was called Justus), and Matthias. 24 And having prayed, they said, “You, Lord, heart-knower of all— appoint[m] the one whom You chose from these two 25 to take the place of this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned-aside to go to his own place”. 26 And they gave lots for them. And the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was added with the eleven apostles.
On Pentecost The Spirit Empowers Them To Speak To The Crowd In Their Native Languages
2 And during the day of Pentecost being fulfilled, they were all together at the same place. 2 And suddenly a noise from heaven like of a violent rushing wind took place, and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 And dividing[n] tongues as-if of fire appeared to them. And it sat on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other tongues[o] as the Spirit was giving[p] the uttering[q] to them. 5 Now there were Jews dwelling in Jerusalem, reverent men from every nation under heaven. 6 And this sound having taken place, the crowd came together and was confounded[r] because they were each one hearing them speaking in his own language! 7 And they were astonished, and were marveling, saying “Behold, are not all these ones speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it we are each one hearing in our own language in which we were born?— 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites; and the ones dwelling-in Mesopotamia, and Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 and Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the regions of Libya toward Cyrene; and the Romans residing here; 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs; we are hearing them speaking the great[s] things of God in our own tongues”. 12 And they were all astonished and greatly-perplexed, saying one to another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others, while scoffing[t], were saying that “They have been filled with sweet-new-wine”.
Peter Declares To The Crowd That This Event Is God Pouring Out His Promised Spirit
14 And Peter, having stood with the eleven, raised his voice and declared[u] to them, “Men, Jews, and all the ones dwelling-in Jerusalem: let this be known to you, and pay-attention-to my words. 15 For these ones are not drunk, as you are assuming[v]. For it is the third[w] hour of the day. 16 But this is the thing having been spoken through the prophet Joel [in Joel 2:28-32]: 17 ‘And it shall be in the last days, God says, that I will pour-out from[x] My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and your older men will dream with dreams. 18 And[y] indeed upon My male-slaves and upon My female-slaves I will pour-out from My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 And I will give wonders in the heaven above, and signs on the earth below— blood, and fire and a vapor of smoke. 20 The sun will be changed into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious[z] day of the Lord comes. 21 And it shall be that everyone who calls-upon the name of the Lord will be saved’.
Listen Everyone: You Killed Jesus The Nazarene, But God Raised Him From The Dead
22 “Men, Israelites, listen-to these words: As to Jesus the Nazarene, a man having been attested by God to you with[aa] miracles and wonders and signs which God did through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— 23 this One, given-over[ab] by the determined[ac] purpose[ad] and foreknowledge of God, you killed, having fastened[ae] Him to a cross by the hand of Lawless ones, 24 Whom God raised-up, having put-an-end-to[af] the pains[ag] of death, because it was not possible that He be held-on-to by it.
David Predicted This. And Jesus Poured Out What You Both See And Hear
25 “For David says with reference to Him [in Ps 16:8-11], ‘I was seeing the Lord in my presence continually, because He is on my right side so that I may not be shaken. 26 For this reason my heart was cheered and my tongue rejoiced-greatly. And furthermore, my flesh will also dwell in hope, 27 because You will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor give[ah] Your holy One to see[ai] decay. 28 You made the ways of life known to me. You will make me full of gladness with Your presence’. 29 Men, brothers, it is proper to say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both came-to-an-end[aj] and was buried. And his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God swore to him with an oath to seat One from the fruit of his loins upon his throne, 31 having foreseen it, he spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ— that He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh see decay. 32 God raised up this Jesus, of which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, He poured-out this which you are both seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not go up into the heavens, but he himself says [in Ps 110:1], ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Be sitting on My right side 35 until I put Your enemies as a footstool of Your feet”’.
Therefore, Let All Israel Know That God Made Jesus Both Lord And Messiah
36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know with-certainty that God made Him both Lord and Christ— this Jesus Whom you crucified”.
Peter Urges The Crowd To Repent And Be Baptized. About 3,000 Respond
37 And having heard it, they were pierced in the heart, and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Men, brothers, what should we do?” 38 And Peter says to them, “Repent, and let each of you be baptized on-the-basis-of [ak] the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you, and for your children, and for all the ones far-away— all-whom the Lord our God will call-to Himself ”. 40 And he solemnly-testified with many other words, and was exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this crooked generation”. 41 So indeed, the ones having welcomed[al] his word were baptized. And about three-thousand souls were added on that day.
Life In The First Church: The Apostles Teach and Do Miracles, Believers Learn And Love
42 Now they were devoting-themselves[am] to the teaching of the apostles and to fellowship, to the breaking[an] of the bread and to prayers. 43 And awe was taking place in every soul. And many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all the ones believing were at the same[ao] place, and were having all things common. 45 And they were selling properties and possessions, and distributing them to all— as anyone was having a need. 46 And while continuing daily with-one-accord in the temple and breaking bread[ap] house by house, they were sharing-in food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 while praising God and having favor with the whole people. And the Lord was adding the ones being saved daily at-the-same-place.
Peter Heals a Man Lame From Birth In The Name of Jesus Christ The Nazarene
3 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth[aq] hour. 2 And a certain man being lame from his mother’s womb was being carried, whom they were putting daily at the gate of the temple being called “Beautiful”, that he might be asking-for alms[ar] from the ones coming into the temple— 3 who, having seen Peter and John being about to go into the temple, was asking to receive alms. 4 And Peter, along with John, having looked-intently at him, said, “Look at us!” 5 And the one was fixing-his-attention-on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 And Peter said, “There is no silver and gold with me. But what I have, this I give to you— in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, arise and walk”. 7 And having seized him by the right hand, he raised him. And at once his feet and ankles were made-strong[as]. 8 And leaping-up, he stood and was walking-around. And he entered with them into the temple, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 And they were recognizing him— that he was the one sitting for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. And they were filled with wonder and astonishment at the thing having happened to him.
A Crowd Comes Together, And Peter Speaks To Them:
11 And while he was holding-on-to Peter and John, all the people ran-together to them at the portico being called “Solomon’s”, struck-with-wonder. 12 And having seen it, Peter responded to the people—
God Raised Jesus, The One You Denied And Killed. And Jesus Healed This Man
“Men, Israelites, why are you marveling at this? Or why are you looking-intently at us as-if we caused him to walk by our own power or godliness? 13 The God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers— He glorified His servant Jesus, Whom you indeed handed-over and denied in the presence of Pilate, that one having determined[at] to release Him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked that a man who was a murderer be granted to you. 15 And you killed the Author[au] of life, Whom God raised from the dead— of which we are witnesses. 16 And on-the-basis-of [our] faith in His name, His name made this one strong whom you see and know. And the faith that comes through Him gave him this wholeness in front of all of you.
The Prophets Said The Christ Would Suffer, Which God Now Fulfilled. Therefore Repent
17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in-accordance-with[av] ignorance, just as also your rulers. 18 But God fulfilled in this manner the things which He announced-beforehand through the mouth of all the prophets— that His Christ would suffer. 19 Therefore repent and turn-back so that your sins may be wiped-out[aw], 20 so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and He may send-forth the Christ[ax] having been appointed[ay] for you— Jesus, 21 Whom it-is-necessary[az] that heaven receive until the times of restoration of all things, of which God spoke through the mouth of His holy prophets from the past age.
Moses And The Prophets Announced This Day. God Has Sent Jesus To You First
22 “Moses said [in Deut 18:15-19] that ‘The Lord your God will raise-up a prophet for you from your brothers like me. You shall listen-to[ba] Him in relation to all that He says to you. 23 And it will be that every soul who does not listen-to that prophet will be utterly-destroyed out of the people’. 24 And[bb] indeed all the prophets from Samuel and his successors who spoke also announced these days. 25 You are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God covenanted with your fathers, saying to Abraham [in Gen 22:18], ‘And all the families of the earth will be blessed in your seed’. 26 God, having raised-up His Servant, sent Him forth to you first— blessing you in[bc] turning-away each of you from your evil-ways”.
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing