Study Desk

"Dear woman, why are you crying?" the angels asked her. "Because they have taken away my Lord," she replied, "and I don't know where they have put him."

As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord!

They told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he replied, "I won't believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side."

Then he said, "Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you'll get some!" So they did, and they couldn't haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.

The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore.

When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.

"Now come and have some breakfast!" Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord.

So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, "Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?"

He replied, "The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know.

After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him.

When they arrived, they went to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying. Here are the names of those who were present: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the zealot), and Judas (son of James).

They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.

The news of his death spread to all the people of Jerusalem, and they gave the place the Aramaic name Akeldama, which means "Field of Blood.")

So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.

Then they cast lots, and Matthias was selected to become an apostle with the other eleven.

Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.

When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.

They stood there amazed and perplexed. "What can this mean?" they asked each other.

In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike— and they will prophesy.

Peter's words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?"