Chapter I: AM the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. (2)Every branch (1)

in me that bears not fruit, he takes it away; and every one that bears fruit, he cleanses it, that it may bear more fruit. (3)Ye are already clean, through the word which I have spoken to you.

(4)Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch can not bear fruit of itself, if it abide not in the vine, so neither can ye, if ye abide not in me. (5)I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abides in me and I in him, the same bears much fruit; because without me ye can do nothing. (6)If any one abide not in me, he is cast forth as the branch, and is withered; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (7)If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever ye will, and it shall be done to you.

(8)Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; and ye shall become my disciples. (9)As the Father loved me, I also loved you; abide in my love. (10)If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

(11)These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and your joy be made full. (12)This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I loved you. (13)Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. (14)Ye are my friends, if ye do whatever I command you.

(15)No longer do I call you servants; because the servant knows not what his lord does. But I have called you friends because all things that I heard from my Father I made known to you. (16)Ye did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you that ye may go and bear fruit, and that your fruit may remain; that whatever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

(17)These things I command you, that ye love one another. (18)If the world hates you, ye know that it has hated me before it hated you. (19)If ye were of the world, the world would love its own; but because ye are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, for this the world hates you. (20)Remember the word that I said to you: A servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they kept my saying, they will keep yours also. (21)But all these things they will do to you for my name's sake, because they know not him who sent me.

(22)If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no cloak for their sin. (23)He that hates me hates my Father also. (24)If I had not done among them the works which no other one has done, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father. (25)But this comes to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law: They hated me without a cause.

(26)But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness of me. (27)And ye also shall bear witness, because ye are with me from the beginning.

XVI.

THESE things I have spoken to you, that ye should not be offended. (2)They will put you out of the synagogues; yea, a time is coming, that every one who kills you will think he makes an offering to God. (3)And these things they will do to you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. (4)But these things I have spoken to you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you. And these things I told you not from the beginning, because I was with you.

(5)And now I go to him who sent me; and none of you asks me: Whither goest thou? (6)But because I have spoken these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. (7)But I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I depart; for if I depart not, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. (8)And when he is come, he will convict the world, in respect of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment; (9)of sin, in that they believe not on me; (10)of righteousness, in that I go to my Father, and ye behold me no more; (11)of judgment, in that the prince of this world has been judged.

(12)I have yet many things to say to you, but ye can not bear them now. (13)But when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak from himself, but whatever he shall hear, that will he speak, and he will tell you the things to come. (14)He will glorify me; because he will receive of mine, and will tell it to you. (15)All things that the Father has are mine. Therefore, I said, that he will receive of mine, and will tell it to you. (16)A little while, and ye behold me not; and again a little while, and ye shall see me.

(17)Therefore some of his disciples said to one another: What is this that he says to us, A little while, and ye behold me not; and again a little while, and ye shall see me; and, I go to the Father? (18)They said therefore: What is this that he says, A little while? We know not what he says.

(19)Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said to them: Do ye inquire of this with one another, that I said, A little while, and ye behold me not; and again a little while, and ye shall see me? (20)Verily, verily, I say to you, that ye will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and ye will be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. (21)A woman when she is in travail has sorrow, because her hour is come; but when she has borne the child, she remembers no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. (22)And so ye now have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no one takes from you.

(23)And in that day ye shall ask nothing of me. Verily, verily, I say to you: Whatever ye shall ask of the Father, he will give it you in my name. (24)Hitherto ye asked nothing in my name. Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be made full.

(25)These things I have spoken to you in parables. A time is coming, when I will no more speak to you in parables, but I will tell you plainly of the Father. (26)In that day ye shall ask in my name. And I say not to you, that I will pray the Father for you; (27)for the Father himself loves you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came forth from God. (28)I came forth from the Father, and have come into the world; again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.

(29)His disciples say to him: Lo, now thou speakest plainly, and speakest no parable. (30)Now we know that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any one should ask thee. By this we believe that thou camest forth from God.

(31)Jesus answered them: Do ye now believe? (32)Behold, an hour is coming, and has come, that ye will be scattered, each one to his own, and will leave me alone; and I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

(33)These things I have spoken to you, that in me ye may have peace. In the world ye have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

XVII.

THESE words spoke Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said: Father, the hour has come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son may glorify thee; (2)as thou gayest him authority over all flesh, that as many as thou hast given to him, to them he should give eternal life. (3)And this is the eternal life, that they know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou didst send. (4)I glorified thee on the earth; I finished the work which thou hast given me to do. (5)And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self, with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. (6)I manifested thy name to the men whom thou hast given me out of the world. Thine they were, and thou hast given them to me; and they have kept thy word. (7)Now they know that all things whatever thou hast given me are from thee; (8)because the words which thou gayest me I have given to them, and they received them, and knew in truth that I came forth from thee, and believed that thou didst send me. (9)I pray for them; I pray not for the world, but for those whom thou hast given me; because they are thine. (10)And all things that are mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.

(11)And I am no longer in the world; and these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep those in thy name whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are, (12)While I was with them, I kept them in thy name. Those whom thou hast given me I watched over and none of them perished, except the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled. (13)And now I come to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy made full in them. (14)I have given them thy word; and the world hated them, because they are not of the world, as I am not of the world. (15)I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. (16)They are not of the world, as I am not of the world. (17)Sanctify them in the truth; thy word is truth. (18)As thou didst send me into the world, I also sent them into the world. (19)And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified in the truth. (20)And I pray not for these only, but also for those who believe on me through their word; (21)that all may be one; as thou, Father, in me and I in thee, that they also may be in us; that the world may believe that thou didst send me. (22)And the glory which thou hast given to me I have given to them, that they may be one, as we are one; (23)I in them, and thou in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that thou didst send me, and lovedst them as thou lovedst me.

(24)Father, those whom thou hast given me, I will that where I am they also be with me; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me; because thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. (25)Righteous Father! And the world knew thee not! But I knew thee, and these knew that thou didst send me; (26)and I made known to them thy name, and will make it known; that the love wherewith thou lovedst me may be in them, and I in them.

XVIII.

HAVING spoken these words, Jesus went out with his disciples beyond the brook Kedron, where was a garden, into which he entered and his disciples. (2)And Judas also, his betrayer knew the place; because Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.

(3)Judas therefore, having received the band and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, comes thither with torches and lamps and weapons. (4)Jesus therefore, knowing all the things that were coming upon him, went forth and said to them: Whom do ye seek? (5)They answered him: Jesus the Nazarene. Jesus says to them: I am he. And Judas also, his betrayer, was standing with them.

(6)When therefore he said to them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.

(7)Again therefore he asked them: Whom do ye seek? And they said: Jesus the Nazarene. (8)Jesus answered: I told you that I am he; if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way; (9)that the saying might be fulfilled, which he spoke: Of those whom thou hast given me, I lost none.

(10)Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. (11)Jesus therefore said to Peter: Put up thy sword into the sheath. The cup which my Father has given me, shall I not drink it?

(12)So the band, and the captain, and the officers of the Jews, took Jesus and bound him, (13)and led him away to Annas first; for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. (14)And it was Caiaphas who counseled the Jews, that it is expedient that one man should die for the people.

(15)And Simon Peter and the other disciple followed Jesus. That disciple was known to the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the court of the high priest. (16)But Peter was standing at the door without. Therefore the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her that kept the door, and brought in Peter. (17)Then the damsel that kept the door says to Peter: Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He says: I am not.

(18)And the servants and the officers were standing there, having made a fire of coals, because it was cold, and were warming themselves; and Peter was standing with them, and warming himself.

(19)The high priest therefore asked Jesus concerning his disciples, and concerning his teaching. (20)Jesus answered him: I have spoken openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, where all the Jews assemble; and I spoke nothing in secret. (21)Why askest thou me? Ask those who have heard, what I spoke to them. Behold, these know what things I said.

(22)And when he had said this, one of the officers who was standing by gave Jesus a blow on the face, saying: Answerest thou the high priest so? (23)Jesus answered him: If I spoke evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why dost thou smite me?

(24)Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. (25)And Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said therefore to him: Art thou also one of his disciples? He denied, and said: I am not. (26)One of the servants of the high priest, being a kinsman of him whose ear Peter cut off, says: Did not I see thee in the garden with him? (27)Again therefore Peter denied; and immediately a cock crowed.

(28)Then they lead Jesus from Caiaphas into the Governor's palace; and it was early; and they themselves went not into the palace, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the passover. (29)Pilate therefore went out to them, and said: What accusation do ye bring against this man? (30)They answered and said to him: If this man were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up to thee. (31)Pilate therefore said to them: Do ye take him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said to him: It is not lawful for us to put any one to death; (32)that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spoke, signifying by what manner of death he should die.

(33)Pilate therefore entered into the palace again, and called Jesus, and said to him: Art thou the King of the Jews? (34)Jesus answered: Dost thou say this of thyself, or did others tell thee concerning me? (35)Pilate answered: Am I a Jew? Thine own nation, and the chief priests, delivered thee up to me. What didst thou? (36)Jesus answered: My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, that I might not be delivered up to the Jews; but now is my kingdom not from hence. (37)Pilate therefore said to him: Art thou a king then? Jesus answered: Thou sayest it; because I am a king. To this end have I been born, and to this end have I come into the world, that I may bear witness to the truth. Every one that is of the truth hears my voice.

(38)Pilate says to him: What is truth? And having said this, he went out again to the Jews, and says to them: I find no fault in him. (39)But ye have a custom, that I should release to you one at the passover. Do ye desire therefore that I release to you the King of the Jews? (40)They all therefore cried out again, saying: Not this one, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.

XIX.

THEN therefore Pilate took Jesus, and scourged him. (2)And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and put on him a purple robe; and they came to him, (3)and said: Hail, King of the Jews! And they gave him blows on the face.

(4)Pilate went forth again, and says to them: Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. (5)Jesus therefore came forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And he says to them: Behold the man!

(6)When therefore the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, saying: Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate says to them: Do ye take him, and crucify him; for I find no fault in him. (7)The Jews answered him: We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.

(8)When therefore Pilate heard this saying, he was the more afraid. (9)And he went again into the palace, and says to Jesus: Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. (10)Then says Pilate to him: Dost thou not speak to me? Knowest thou not that I have power to release thee, and have power to crucify thee? (11)Jesus answered: Thou wouldst have no power against me, except it were given thee from above. Therefore he that delivers me to thee has the greater sin. (12)Thenceforth Pilate sought to release him. But the Jews cried out, saying: If thou let this man go, thou art not a friend of Caesar. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.

(13)When therefore Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down on the judgment-seat in a place called the Pavement, and in Hebrew, Gabbatha. (14)And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour. And he says to the Jews: Behold your king! (15)But they cried out: Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate says to them: Shall I crucify your king? The chief priests answered: We have no king but Caesar. (16)Then therefore he delivered him to them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.

(17)And bearing his cross he went forth into the place called Place of a skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha; (18)where they crucified him, and two others with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst. (19)And Pilate wrote also a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS THE NAZARENE THE KING OF THE JEWS.

(20)This title therefore many of the Jews read; because the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city, and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. (21)Therefore said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate: Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. (22)Pilate answered: What I have written, I have written.

(23)Then the soldiers, when they crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part, and also his coat. And the coat was without a seam, woven from the top throughout. (24)They said therefore to one another: Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be; that the scripture might be fulfilled which says:

They parted my garments among them.
And for my vesture they cast lots.

These things the soldiers did. (25)And there were standing by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary the Magdalene. (26)Jesus therefore seeing his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing by, says to his mother: Woman, behold thy son! (27)Then he says to the disciple: Behold thy mother! And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

(28)After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now finished, that the scripture might be accomplished, says: I thirst. (29)Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar; and they, having filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it on a hyssop-stalk, bore it to his mouth. (30)When Jesus therefore received the vinegar, he said: It is finished; and he bowed his head, and gave up his spirit.

(31)The Jews therefore, since it was the preparation, that the bodies might not remain upon the cross on the sabbath (for that sabbath day was a great day), besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and they be taken away. (32)The soldiers came, therefore, and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who was crucified with him. (33)But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was already dead, they broke not his legs. (34)But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith there came out blood and water.

(35)And he that has seen has borne witness, and his witness is true, and he knows that he says what is true, that ye also might believe. (36)For these things came to pass, that the scripture might be fulfilled: A bone of him shall not be broken. (37)And again another scripture says: They shall look on him whom they pierced.

(38)And after this, Joseph from Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took away the body of Jesus. (39)And there came also Nicodemus, who at the first came to Jesus by night, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight. (40)They took therefore the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the custom of the Jews to prepare for burial.

(41)And in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein no one was yet laid. (42)There they laid Jesus therefore, on account of the preparation of the Jews, because the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

XX.

AND on the first day of the week Mary the Magdalene comes early, while it is yet dark, to the sepulchre, and sees the stone taken away out of the sepulchre. (2)She runs therefore and comes to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and says to them: They took away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they laid him.

(3)Peter therefore went forth, and the other disciple, and they went to the sepulchre. (4)And the two ran together; and the other disciple outran Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. (5)And stooping down he sees the linen cloths lying; yet he went not in. (6)Then comes Simon Peter following him; and he went into the sepulchre, and sees the linen cloths lying, (7)and the napkin that was about his head not lying with the linen cloths, but wrapped together in a place by itself. (8)Then therefore the other disciple, who came first to the sepulchre, went in also; and he saw, and believed. (9)For not even yet did they know the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

(10)The disciples therefore went away again to their own home. (11)And Mary was standing by the sepulchre without, weeping. So, as she wept, she stooped clown into the sepulchre, (12)and beholds two angels in white, sitting the one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus lay. (13)And they say to her: Woman, why weepest thou? She says to them: Because they took away my Lord, and I know not where they laid him.

(14)Having said this, she turned back and beholds Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. (15)Jesus says to her: Woman, why weepest thou? Whom dost thou seek? She, supposing that it was the gardener, says to him: Sir, if thou didst bear him hence, tell me where thou laidest him, and I will take him away. (16)Jesus says to her: Mary! Turning, she says to him in Hebrew: Rabboni! (which is to say, Teacher!) (17)Jesus says to her: Touch me not; for I have not yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brethren, and say to them: I ascend to my Father and your Father, and my God and your God.

(18)Mary the Magdalene comes bringing word to the disciples, that she has seen the Lord, and that he spoke these things to her.

(19)When therefore it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, the doors having been shut, where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst; and he says to them: Peace be to you. (20)And having said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced therefore, when they saw the Lord.

(21)Jesus therefore said to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you. (22)And having said this, he breathed on them, and says to them: Receive the Holy Spirit. (23)Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted to them; and whosesoever ye retain, they are retained.

(24)But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. (25)The other disciples therefore said to him: We have seen the Lord. But he said to them: Except I see in his hands the print of the nails, and thrust my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

(26)And after eight days, again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus comes, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said: Peace be to you. (27)After that, he says to Thomas: Reach hither thy finger, and see my hands; and reach thy hand, and thrust it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing. (28)Thomas answered and said to him: My Lord, and my God. (29)Jesus says to him: Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed. Happy they who saw not, and have believed!

(30)Many other signs also did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. (31)But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye may have life in his name.

XXI.

AFTER these things Jesus manifested himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and he manifested himself in this manner.

(2)There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael from Cana of Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. (3)Simon Peter says to them: I go a fishing. They say to him: We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into the ship; and in that night they caught nothing.

(4)But when morning was now come, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. (5)Jesus therefore says to them: Children, have ye anything to eat? They answered him: No. (6)And he said to them: Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast it therefore; and now they were not able to draw it, for the multitude of the fishes.

(7)Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved says to Peter: It is the Lord. Simon Peter therefore, hearing that it is the Lord, girded on his outer garment (for he was naked), and cast himself into the sea. (8)And the other disciples came in the boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits off), dragging the net with the fishes.

(9)When therefore they went out upon the land, they see a fire of coals there, and a fish lying thereon, and bread. (10)Jesus says to them: Bring of the fishes which ye just now caught. (11)Simon Peter went on board, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, a hundred and fifty and three; and though there were so many, the net was not broken.

(12)Jesus says to them: Come hither, and break your fast. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it is the Lord. (13)Jesus comes, and takes the bread and gives to them, and the fish likewise. (14)This the third time already, Jesus manifested himself to his disciples, after he was risen from the dead.

(15)When therefore they had broken their fast, Jesus says to Simon Peter: Simon, son of Jonah, lovest thou me more than these? He says to him: Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He says to him: Feed my lambs.

(16)He says to him again a second time: Simon, son of Jonah, lovest thou me? He says to him: Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He says to him: Tend my sheep.

(17)He says to him the third time: Simon, son of Jonah, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said to him: Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus says to him: Feed my sheep.

(18)Verily, verily, I say to thee, when thou wast young, thou didst gird thyself, and walk whither thou wouldst; but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and lead thee whither thou wouldst not. (19)And this he spoke, signifying by what manner of death he should glorify God.

And having spoken this, he says to him: Follow me. (20)Peter, turning about, sees the disciple whom Jesus loved following; who also at the supper leaned back on his breast, and said: Lord, who is he that betrays thee? (21)Peter seeing him says to Jesus: Lord, and what shall this man do? (22)Jesus says to him: If I will that he remain till I come, what is it to thee? Do thou follow me.

(23)This saying therefore went abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die. And Jesus said not to him, that he should not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is it to thee?

(24)This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true. (25)And there are also many other things which Jesus did; and if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that should be written.

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES.

I.

THE former narration I made, O Theophilus, concerning all things that Jesus began both to do and to teach, (2)until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commandment, through the Holy Spirit, to the apostles whom he chose; (3)to whom also he showed himself living, after he had suffered, by many infallible proofs, during forty days appearing to them, and speaking the things concerning the kingdom of God.

(4)And, being assembled together with them, he commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which ye heard from me; (5)for John indeed immersed in water; but ye shall be immersed in the Holy Spirit, not many days hence.

(6)They therefore, having come together[1:6], asked him, saying: Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? (7)And he said to them: It is not yours to know times or seasons, which the Father appointed by his own authority[1:7]. (8)But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you; and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and Samaria, and unto the utmost part of the earth.

(9)And having spoken these things, while they beheld he was borne up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. (10)And while they were looking intently into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; (11)who also said: Men of Galilee, why stand ye looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye saw him going into heaven.

(12)Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey. (13)And when they came in, they went up into the upper room, where were abiding both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alpheus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. (14)These all continued with one accord in prayer, with women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

(15)And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren, and said (the number of names together was about a hundred and twenty): (16)Men, brethren, it was necessary that the scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit by the mouth of David spoke before concerning Judas, who became guide to those who took Jesus. (17)Because he was numbered with us, and obtained the office of this ministry.--(18)Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. (19)And it became known to all who dwell at Jerusalem; so that that field was called, in their own tongue, Aceldama, that is, Field of blood.--(20)For it is written in the book of Psalms:

Let his habitation be made desolate,
And let no one dwell therein.

And:

Let another take his office[1:20].

(21)Therefore, of these men, who accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, (22)beginning from John's immersion, unto the day when he was taken up from us, must one be made a witness with us of his resurrection.

(23)And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. (24)And they prayed, saying: Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all, show which of these two thou didst choose, (25)that he may take part in this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell away, that he might go to his own place. (26)And they gave their lots[1:26]; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

II.

AND when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. (2)And suddenly there came a sound out of heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. (3)And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed among them; and it sat upon each of them. (4)And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

(5)Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem, Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. (6)And this being noised abroad[2:6], the multitude came together, and were confounded, because every man heard them speak in his own language. (7)And all were amazed, and wondered, saying one to another Behold, are not all these who speak Galilaeans? (8)And how do we hear, every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born, (9)Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and those who inhabit Mesopotamia, Judaea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, (10)Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, both Jews and proselytes, (11)Cretes and Arabians, hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God? (12)And all were amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another: What may this mean? (13)But others mocking said: They are filled with sweet wine.

(14)But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said to them: Men of Judaea, and all that dwell in Jerusalem, be this known to you, and hearken to my words. (15)For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, for it is the third hour of the day. (16)But this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

(17)And it shall be in the last days, saith God,
That I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh;
And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
And your young men shall see visions,
And your old men shall dream dreams;
(18)And even on my servants and on my handmaids,
I will pour out of my Spirit in those days,
And they shall prophesy.
(19)And I will show wonders in heaven above,
And signs in the earth beneath,
Blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke.
(20)The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the great and notable day of the Lord shall come.
(21)And it shall be, that every one who shall call
on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

(22)Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus the Nazarene, a man accredited to you from God by miracles, and wonders, and signs, which God wrought by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves know; (23)this man, delivered up according to the established counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye slew, crucifying him by the hand of lawless ones; (24)whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death; because it was not possible that he should be held by it. (25)For David says concerning him:

I saw the Lord always before me;
Because he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved.
(26)For this my heart rejoiced, and my tongue exulted;
Moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope;
(27)Because thou wilt not abandon my soul to the underworld,
Nor wilt thou suffer thy Holy One to see corruption.
(28)Thou didst make known to me the ways of life;
Thou wilt make me full of joy with thy presence.

(29)Men, brethren, I may speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his sepulchre is among us unto this day. (30)Being a prophet, therefore, and knowing that God swore to him, with an oath, that of the fruit of his loins one should sit on his throne, (31)he, foreseeing, spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was his soul abandoned to the underworld, nor did his flesh see corruption.

(32)This Jesus God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. (33)Being therefore exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he poured forth this, which ye now see and hear. (34)For David did not ascend into heaven; but he says himself:

The Lord said to my Lord,
Sit on my right hand,
(35)Until I make thy foes thy footstool.

(36)Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God made him, this Jesus whom ye crucified, both Lord and Christ.

(37)And hearing this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: Men, brethren, what shall we do? (38)And Peter said to them: Repent, and be each of you immersed, upon the name of Jesus Christ, unto remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (39)For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all those afar off, as many as the Lord our God shall have called.

(40)And with many other words did he bear witness and exhort, saying: Save yourselves from this perverse generation.

(41)They therefore, having received[2:41] his word, were immersed and on that day there were added about three thousand souls. (42)And they were constantly attending on the teaching of the apostles, and the distribution, and the breaking of bread, and prayers. (43)And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs were wrought through the apostles. (44)And all that believed were together, and had all things common; (45)and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as any one had need. (46)And daily attending with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they partook of food with gladness and singleness of heart, (47)praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who are saved[2:47].

III.

AND Peter and John were going up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. (2)And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried along, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple, the one called Beautiful, to ask alms of those entering into the temple; (3)who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked alms. (4)And Peter, looking intently upon him, with John, said: Look upon us. (5)And he gave heed to them, expecting to receive something from them. (6)And Peter said: Silver and gold have I none; but what I have, that I give thee. In the name of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene, rise up and walk. (7)And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up. And immediately his feet and ankles received strength; (8)and leaping forth, he stood, and walked, and 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 recognized him, that this was he who sat for alms at the beautiful gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened to him.

(11)And as he held fast to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering. (12)And Peter, seeing it, answered to the people: Men of Israel, why wonder ye at this? Or why look ye so intently on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man to walk? (13)The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he decided to release him. (14)But ye denied the Holy and Just, and demanded that a murderer should be granted to you. (15)But the Author of life ye killed; whom God raised from the dead, whereof we are witnesses[3:15]. (16)And his name, upon the faith in his name, made this man strong, whom ye see and know; and the faith, which is through Him, gave him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

(17)And now, brethren, I know that ye acted in ignorance, as also your rulers. (18)But thus God fulfilled what he before announced by the mouth of all his prophets, that the Christ should suffer. (19)Repent therefore, and turn, that your sins may be blotted out, in order that the times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; (20)and that he may send forth Jesus Christ, before appointed for you; (21)whom the heavens, indeed, must receive, until the times of the restoration of all things, which God spoke of by the mouth of all his holy prophets from the beginning. (22)Moses said: A Prophet will the Lord your God raise up to you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatever he shall say to you. (23)And it shall be that every soul, that will not hear that Prophet, shall be utterly destroyed from among the people. (24)And also all the prophets from Samuel, both he and they who followed, as many as spoke, also foretold these days.

(25)Ye are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham: And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. (26)Unto you first, God, having raised up his servant Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.

IV.

AND while they were speaking to the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, (2)being indignant because they taught the people, and announced in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. (3)And they laid hands on them, and put them in prison unto the morrow; for it was now evening.

(4)But many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men became about five thousand.

(5)And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, (6)and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together unto Jerusalem. (7)And having set them in the midst, they asked: By what power, or by what name, did ye do this?

(8)Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: Rulers of the people, and elders of Israel; (9)if we are this day examined in respect to a good deed done to an impotent man, by what means this person has been made whole; (10)be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him does this man stand here before you whole. (11)He is the stone that was set at naught by you the builders, which is become the head of the corner. (12)And there is salvation in no other; for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, in which we must be saved.

(13)And seeing the boldness of Peter and John, and perceiving that they were unlearned and obscure men, they wondered; and they recognized them, that they were with Jesus. (14)And beholding the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against it. (15)But having commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, (16)saying: What shall we do to these men? For that a notorious miracle has been done by them is manifest to all that dwell in Jerusalem, and we are not able to deny it. (17)But that it spread no further among the people, let us strictly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. (18)And having called them, they commanded them not to speak at all, nor teach, in the name of Jesus.

(19)But Peter and John answering said to them: Whether it is right in the sight of God to hearken to you rather than to God, judge ye. (20)For we can not but speak the things which we saw and heard.

(21)And they, having further threatened them, let them go, finding no way to punish them, on account of the people, because all glorified God for that which was done; (22)for the man was above forty years old, on whom this sign of the healing had been wrought.

(23)And being dismissed, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders said to them. (24)And they, hearing it, lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said: Lord, thou art he who made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things in them; (25)who by the mouth of thy servant David said:

Why did the heathen rage[4:25],
And the peoples imagine vain things?
(26)The kings of the earth stood near,
And the rulers assembled together,
Against the Lord, and against his Christ.

(27)For in truth there assembled in this city, against thy holy servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the peoples of Israel, (28)to do whatever thy hand and thy counsel before determined to be done. (29)And now, Lord, behold their threatenings; and grant to thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, (30)by stretching forth thy hand for healing, and that signs and wonders may be wrought through the name of thy holy servant Jesus.

(31)And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

(32)And the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and of one soul; and not one said that aught of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things common. (33)And with great power the apostles gave the testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus; and great grace was upon them all. (34)For there was no one among them that lacked; for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things sold, (35)and laid them at the feet of the apostles; and distribution was made to each one, according as he had need.

(36)And Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (which is interpreted, Son of consolation), a Levite, born in Cyprus, (37)having land sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the feet of the apostles.

V.

BUT a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, (2)and kept back part of the price, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the feet of the apostles. (3)But Peter said: Ananias, why did Satan fill thy heart, that thou shouldst lie to the Holy Spirit, and keep back part of the price of the land? (4)While it remained, was it not thine own? And after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? Why didst thou conceive this thing in thy heart? Thou didst not lie to men, but to God. (5)And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and expired; and great fear came on all that heard these things. (6)And the young men arose, wrapt him up, and carried him out[5:6], and buried him.

(7)And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. (8)And Peter answered her: Tell me, whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said: Yes, for so much. (9)And Peter said to her: Why is it that ye agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. (10)And immediately she fell at his feet, and expired; and coming in, the young men found her dead, and carried her forth, and buried her by her husband. (11)And great fear came upon all the church, and upon all that heard these things.

(12)And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. (13)But of the rest no one dared to join himself to them; but the people honored them; (14)(and still more were believers added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women); (15)so that along the streets they brought forth the sick, and laid them on beds and pallets, that, as Peter was passing, the shadow at least might overshadow some one of them. (16)And the multitude also of the cities around came together to Jerusalem, bringing sick persons, and those who were vexed by unclean spirits; and they were all healed.

(17)But the high priest rose up, and all that were with him, which is the sect of the Sadducees, and were filled with indignation, (18)and laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the public prison.

(19)But an angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors; and having brought them forth, he said: (20)Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. (21)And hearing it, they went into the temple at early dawn, and taught.

And the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the eldership of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. (22)But the officers, when they came, found them not in the prison; and returning, they reported, (23)saying: The prison indeed we found shut with all security, and the keepers standing without before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one within.