Study Desk

They all were continually united in prayer, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

So they proposed two: Joseph, called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias.

Then they cast lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias and he was added to the eleven apostles.

Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying.

They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them.

Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them.

They were astounded and amazed, saying, “Look, aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?

They were all astounded and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”

I will even pour out my Spiriton my servants in those days, both men and womenand they will prophesy.

When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: “Brothers, what should we do?”

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.

They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need.

Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts,

and they recognized that he was the one who used to sit and beg at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. So they were filled with awe and astonishment at what had happened to him.

While they were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple police, and the Sadducees confronted them,

because they were annoyed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.

So they seized them and took them into custody until the next day since it was already evening.

After they had Peter and John stand before them, they began to question them: “By what power or in what name have you done this?”

When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus.

And since they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in opposition.