Study Desk

The first account I ^(F1)composed, ^(C1)Theophilus, about all that Jesus ^(C2)began to do and teach,

until the day when He ^(C1)was taken up to heaven, after He ^(C2)had given orders ^(F1)by the Holy Spirit to ^(C3)the apostles whom He had ^(C4)chosen.

To ^(F1)these ^(C1)He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of ^(C2)things regarding the kingdom of God.

^(F1)Gathering them together, He commanded them ^(C1)not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for ^(F2)(C2)what the Father had promised, "Which," He said, "you heard of from Me;

for ^(C1)John baptized ^(F1)with water, but you will be baptized ^(F1)with the Holy Spirit ^(F2)(C2)not many days from now."

So, when they had come together, they began asking Him, saying, "Lord, ^(C1)is it at this time that You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?"

But He said to them, "It is not for you to know periods of time or appointed times which ^(C1)the Father has set by His own authority;

but you will receive power ^(C1)when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be ^(C2)My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and ^(C3)Samaria, and as far as ^(C4)the remotest part of the earth."

And after He had said these things, ^(C1)He was lifted up while they were watching, and a cloud took Him up, out of their sight.

And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, then behold, ^(C1)two men in white clothing stood beside them,

and they said, "^(C1)Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who ^(C2)has been taken up from you into heaven, will ^(C3)come in the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven."

Then they ^(C1)returned to Jerusalem from the ^(F1)(C2)mountain called ^(F2)Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a ^(F3)Sabbath day's journey away.

When they had entered the city, they went up to ^(C1)the upstairs room where they were staying, that is, ^(C2)Peter, John, ^(F1)James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, ^(F1)James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and ^(C3)Judas the ^(F2)son of ^(F1)James.

All these ^(C1)were continually devoting themselves with one ^(F1)mind to prayer, along with ^(C2)the women, and Mary the ^(C3)mother of Jesus, and with His ^(C3)brothers.

^(F1)At this time Peter stood up among ^(C1)the brothers and sisters (a group of about 120 ^(F2)people was there together), and said,

"^(F1)Brothers, ^(C1)the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, ^(C2)who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.

"For he was ^(C1)counted among us and received his share in ^(C2)this ministry."

(Now this man ^(C1)acquired a field with ^(C2)the price of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out.

And it became known to all the residents of Jerusalem; as a result that field was called Hakeldama in ^(C1)their own language, that is, Field of Blood.)

"For it is written in the book of Psalms: '^(C1)MAY HIS RESIDENCE BE MADE DESOLATE, AND MAY THERE BE NONE LIVING IN IT'; and, '^(C2)MAY ANOTHER TAKE HIS ^(F1)OFFICE.'

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"Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that ^(C1)the Lord Jesus went in and out ^(F1)among us—

^(C1)beginning ^(F1)with the baptism of John until the day that He ^(C2)was taken up from us—one of these must become a ^(C3)witness with us of His resurrection."

So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and ^(C1)Matthias.

And they ^(C1)prayed and said, "You, Lord, who ^(C2)know the hearts of all people, show which one of these two You have chosen

to ^(F1)occupy ^(C1)this ministry and ^(C2)apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place."

And they ^(F1)(C1)drew lots for them, and the lot fell ^(F2)to ^(C2)Matthias; and he was added to ^(C3)the eleven apostles.

When ^(C1)the day of Pentecost ^(F1)had come, they were all together in one place.

And suddenly a noise like a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled ^(C1)the whole house where they were sitting.

And tongues that looked like fire appeared to them, ^(F1)distributing themselves, and a tongue ^(F2)rested on each one of them.

And they were all ^(C1)filled with the Holy Spirit and began to ^(C2)speak with different ^(F1)tongues, as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out.

Now there were Jews residing in Jerusalem, ^(C1)devout men from every nation under heaven.

And when ^(C1)this sound occurred, the crowd came together and they were bewildered, because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own ^(F1)language.

^(C1)They were amazed and astonished, saying, "^(F1)Why, are not all these who are speaking ^(C2)Galileans?

"And how is it that we each hear them in our own ^(F1)language ^(F2)to which we were born?

"Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, and ^(C1)Cappadocia, ^(C2)Pontus and ^(F1)(C3)Asia,

^(C1)Phrygia and ^(C2)Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya around ^(C3)Cyrene, and ^(F1)(C4)visitors from Rome, both Jews and ^(F2)(C5)proselytes,

Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own ^(F1)tongues of the mighty deeds of God."

And ^(C1)they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, "What does this mean?"

But others were jeering and saying, "^(C1)They are full of ^(F1)sweet wine!"

But Peter, taking his stand with ^(C1)the other eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: "Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, ^(F1)know this, and pay attention to my words.

"For these people are not drunk, as you assume, ^(C1)since it is only the ^(F1)third hour of the day;

but this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:

'^(C1)AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,' God says, 'THAT I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT ON ALL ^(F1)MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS WILL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN WILL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN WILL ^(F2)HAVE DREAMS;

AND EVEN ON MY MALE AND FEMALE ^(F1)SERVANTS I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT IN THOSE DAYS, And they will prophesy.

-'AND I WILL ^(F1)DISPLAY WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVE AND SIGNS ON THE EARTH BELOW, BLOOD, FIRE, AND ^(F2)VAPOR OF SMOKE.

-'THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD, BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD COMES.

-'AND IT SHALL BE THAT ^(C1)EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.'

"Men of Israel, listen to these words: ^(C1)Jesus the Nazarene, ^(C2)a Man ^(F1)attested to you by God with ^(F2)miracles and ^(C3)wonders and ^(F3)signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know—

this Man, delivered over by the ^(C1)predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, ^(C2)you nailed to a cross by the hands of ^(F1)godless men and put Him to death.

"^(F1)But ^(C1)God raised Him from the dead, putting an end to the ^(F2)agony of death, since it ^(C2)was impossible for Him to be held ^(F3)in its power.

"For David says of Him, '^(C1)I SAW THE LORD CONTINUALLY BEFORE ME, BECAUSE HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND, SO THAT I WILL NOT BE SHAKEN.

-'THEREFORE MY HEART WAS GLAD AND MY TONGUE WAS OVERJOYED; MOREOVER MY FLESH ALSO WILL LIVE IN HOPE;

FOR YOU WILL NOT ABANDON MY SOUL TO ^(C1)HADES, ^(C2)NOR WILL YOU ^(F1)ALLOW YOUR ^(F2)HOLY ONE TO ^(F3)UNDERGO DECAY.

-'YOU HAVE MADE KNOWN TO ME THE WAYS OF LIFE; YOU WILL MAKE ME FULL OF GLADNESS WITH YOUR PRESENCE.'

"^(F1)Brothers, I may confidently say to you regarding the ^(C1)patriarch David that he both ^(C2)died and ^(C3)was buried, and ^(C4)his tomb is ^(F2)with us to this day.

"So because he was ^(C1)a prophet and knew that ^(C2)God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one ^(F1)of his descendants on his throne,

he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the ^(F1)Christ, that ^(C1)He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh ^(F2)suffer decay.

"It is this Jesus whom ^(C1)God raised up, ^(F1)a fact to which we are all ^(C2)witnesses.

"Therefore, ^(F1)since He has been exalted ^(F2)(C1)at the right hand of God, and ^(C2)has received ^(C3)the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, He has ^(C4)poured out this which you both see and hear.

"For it was not David who ascended into ^(F1)heaven, but he himself says: '^(C1)THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,

UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET."'

"Therefore let all the ^(C1)house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both ^(C2)Lord and ^(F1)Christ—this Jesus ^(C3)whom you crucified."

Now when they heard this, they were ^(F1)pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "^(F2)Brothers, ^(C1)what are we to do?"

Peter said to them, "^(C1)Repent, and each of you be ^(C2)baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

"For ^(C1)the promise is for you and your children and for all who are ^(C2)far away, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself."

And with many other words he solemnly ^(C1)testified and kept on urging them, saying, "^(F1)Be saved from this ^(C2)perverse generation!"

So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand ^(F1)(C1)souls.

They were ^(C1)continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to ^(C2)the breaking of bread and ^(C1)to ^(F1)prayer.

^(F1)Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many ^(C1)wonders and ^(F2)signs were taking place through the apostles.

And all the believers ^(F1)were together and ^(C1)had all things in common;

and they ^(C1)would sell their property and possessions and share them with all, to the extent that anyone had need.

^(C1)Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and ^(C2)breaking bread ^(F1)from house to house, they were taking their ^(F2)meals together with gladness and ^(F3)sincerity of heart,

praising God and ^(C1)having favor with all the people. And the Lord ^(C2)was adding to ^(F1)their number day by day ^(C3)those who were being saved.

Now ^(C1)Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ^(F1)ninth hour, ^(C2)the hour of prayer.

And ^(C1)a man who had been unable to walk from ^(F1)birth was being carried, whom they ^(C2)used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, ^(C3)in order for him to beg for charitable gifts from those entering the temple grounds.

When he saw ^(C1)Peter and John about to go into the temple grounds, he began asking to receive a charitable gift.

But Peter, along with John, ^(C1)looked at him intently and said, "Look at us!"

And he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.

But Peter said, "I do not have silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: ^(C1)In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk!"

And grasping him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened.

And ^(C1)leaping up, he stood and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.

And ^(C1)all the people saw him walking and praising God;

and they recognized him as being the very one who used to ^(C1)sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg for charitable gifts, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

While he was clinging to ^(C1)Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the ^(F1)(C2)portico named Solomon's, completely astonished.

But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, "Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why are you staring at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him walk?

"^(C1)The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, ^(C2)the God of our fathers, has glorified His ^(F1)(C3)Servant Jesus, the one whom ^(C4)you handed over and disowned in the presence of ^(C5)Pilate, when he had ^(C6)decided to release Him.

"But you disowned ^(C1)the Holy and Righteous One, and ^(C2)asked for a murderer to be granted to you,

but put to death the ^(F1)(C1)Prince of life, whom ^(C2)God raised from the dead, ^(F2)a fact to which we are ^(C3)witnesses.

"And on the basis of faith ^(C1)in His name, it is ^(F1)the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.

"And now, brothers, I know that you acted ^(C1)in ignorance, just as your ^(C2)rulers also did.

"But the things which ^(C1)God previously announced by the mouths of all the prophets, ^(C2)that His ^(F1)Christ would suffer, He has fulfilled in this way.

"Therefore ^(C1)repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that ^(C2)times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;

and that He may send Jesus, the ^(F1)Christ appointed for you,

^(C1)whom heaven must receive until the ^(F1)period of ^(C2)restoration of all things, about which ^(C3)God spoke by the mouths of His holy prophets from ancient times.

"Moses said, '^(C1)THE LORD GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR COUNTRYMEN; TO HIM YOU SHALL LISTEN regarding everything He says to you.

'^(C1)And it shall be that every ^(C2)soul that does not listen to that prophet ^(C3)shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.'

"And likewise, ^(C1)all the prophets who have spoken from Samuel and his successors onward, have also announced these days.

"It is you who are ^(C1)the sons of the prophets and of the ^(C2)covenant which God ordained with your fathers, saying to Abraham, '^(C3)AND IN YOUR SEED ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED.'

"God ^(C1)raised up His ^(F1)Servant for you ^(C2)first, and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways."

As they were speaking to the people, the priests and ^(C1)the captain of the temple guard and ^(C2)the Sadducees ^(C3)came up to them,

being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming ^(F1)(C1)in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

And they laid hands on them and ^(C1)put them in prison until the next day, for it was already evening.

But many of those who had heard the ^(F1)message believed; and ^(C1)the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

On the next day, their ^(C1)rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem;

and ^(C1)Annas the high priest was there, and ^(C2)Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent.

When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, "By what power, or in what name, have you done this?"

Then Peter, ^(F1)(C1)filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "^(F2)(C2)Rulers and elders of the people,

if we are ^(F1)on trial today for ^(C1)a benefit done to a sick man, as to ^(F2)how this man has been made well,

let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that ^(F1)(C1)by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom ^(C2)God raised from the dead—^(F1)by ^(F2)this name this man stands here before you in good health.

"^(F1)(C1)He is the ^(C2)STONE WHICH WAS ^(C3)REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE.

"And there is salvation in ^(C1)no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved."

Now as they observed the ^(C1)confidence of ^(C2)Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and ^(C3)began to recognize them ^(F1)as having been with Jesus.

And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply.

But when they had ordered them to leave the ^(F1)(C1)Council, they began to confer with one another,

saying, "^(C1)What are we to do with these men? For the fact that a ^(C2)noteworthy ^(F1)miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

"But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let's warn them not to speak any longer to any person ^(C1)in this name."

And when they had summoned them, they ^(C1)commanded them not to speak or teach at all ^(F1)in the name of Jesus.

But ^(C1)Peter and John answered and said to them, "^(C2)Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, make your own judgment;

for ^(C1)we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard."

When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) ^(C1)on account of the people, because they were all ^(C2)glorifying God for what had happened;

for the man on whom this ^(F1)miracle of healing had been performed was more than forty years old.

When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported everything that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.

And when they heard this, they raised their voices to God with one mind and said, "^(F1)Lord, it is You who ^(C1)MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND EVERYTHING THAT IS IN THEM,

who ^(C1)by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said, '^(C2)WHY WERE THE ^(F1)NATIONS INSOLENT, AND THE PEOPLES PLOTTING IN VAIN?

-'^(C1)THE KINGS OF THE EARTH ^(F1)TOOK THEIR STAND, AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS ^(F2)(C2)CHRIST.'

"For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy ^(F1)(C1)Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both ^(C2)Herod and ^(C3)Pontius Pilate, along with ^(C4)the ^(F2)Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,

to do whatever Your hand and ^(C1)purpose predestined to occur.

"And ^(F1)now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant it to Your bond-servants to ^(C1)speak Your word with all ^(C2)confidence,

while You extend Your hand to heal, and ^(F1)(C1)signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy ^(F2)(C2)Servant Jesus."

And when they had prayed, the ^(C1)place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all ^(C2)filled with the Holy Spirit and began to ^(C3)speak the word of God with ^(C4)boldness.

And the ^(F1)congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them ^(F2)claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but ^(C1)all things were common property to them.

And ^(C1)with great power the apostles were giving ^(C2)testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.

For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses ^(C1)would sell them and bring the ^(F1)proceeds of the sales

and ^(C1)lay them at the apostles' feet, and they would be ^(C2)distributed to each to the extent that any had need.

Now Joseph, a Levite of ^(C1)Cyprian birth, who was also called ^(C2)Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of ^(F1)(C3)Encouragement),

^(F1)owned a tract of land. So he sold it, and brought the money and ^(C1)laid it at the apostles' feet.