Study Desk

and saw two angels inside. They were dressed in white and were sitting where Jesus' body had been. One was at the head and the other was at the foot.

The disciples were afraid of the Jewish leaders, and on the evening of that same Sunday they locked themselves in a room. Suddenly, Jesus appeared in the middle of the group. He greeted them

and showed them his hands and his side. When the disciples saw the Lord, they became very happy.

So they told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But Thomas said, "First, I must see the nail scars in his hands and touch them with my finger. I must put my hand where the spear went into his side. I won't believe unless I do this!"

So he told them, "Let your net down on the right side of your boat, and you will catch some fish." They did, and the net was so full of fish that they could not drag it up into the boat.

When the disciples got out of the boat, they saw some bread and a charcoal fire with fish on it.

Jesus said, "Come and eat!" But none of the disciples dared ask who he was. They knew he was the Lord.

After Jesus had said this and while they were watching, he was taken up into a cloud. They could not see him,

They said, "Why are you men from Galilee standing here and looking up into the sky? Jesus has been taken to heaven. But he will come back in the same way that you have seen him go."

The Mount of Olives was about half a mile from Jerusalem. The apostles who had gone there were Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon, known as the Eager One, and Judas the son of James. After the apostles returned to the city, they went upstairs to the room where they had been staying.

They drew names, and Matthias was chosen to join the group of the eleven apostles.

Then they saw what looked like fiery tongues moving in all directions, and a tongue came and settled on each person there.

The Holy Spirit took control of everyone, and they began speaking whatever languages the Spirit let them speak.

And when they heard this noise, a crowd gathered. But they were surprised, because they were hearing everything in their own languages.

They were excited and amazed, and said: Don't all these who are speaking come from Galilee?

Others made fun of the Lord's followers and said, "They are drunk."

In those days I will give my Spirit to my servants, both men and women, and they will prophesy.

When the people heard this, they were very upset. They asked Peter and the other apostles, "Friends, what shall we do?"

This promise is for you and your children. It is for everyone our Lord God will choose, no matter where they live."

They spent their time learning from the apostles, and they were like family to each other. They also broke bread and prayed together.