Acts 2-7

American Standard Version

2 And when the day of Pentecost ^[a]was now come, they were all together in one place. ² And suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. ³ And there appeared unto them tongues ^[b]parting asunder, like as of fire; and it sat upon each one 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 at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. ⁶ And when this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speaking in his own language. ⁷ And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying, Behold, are not all these that speak Galilaeans? ⁸ And how hear we, every man in our own language wherein we were born? ⁹ Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, in Judaea and Cappadocia, in Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰ in Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and sojourners from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, ¹¹ Cretans and Arabians, we hear them speaking in our tongues the mighty works of God. ¹² And they were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying one to another, What meaneth this? ¹³ But others mocking said, They are filled with new wine.

¹⁴ But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spake forth unto them, saying, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and give ear unto my words. ¹⁵ For these are not drunken, as ye suppose; seeing it is but the third hour of the day; ¹⁶ but this is that which hath been spoken through the prophet Joel:

²² Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God unto you by ^[f]mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him in the midst of you, even as ye yourselves know; ²³ him, being delivered up by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye by the hand of ^[g]lawless men did crucify and slay: ²⁴ whom God raised up, having loosed the pangs of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. ²⁵ For David saith concerning him,

²⁹ Brethren, I may say unto you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us unto this day. ³⁰ Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins ^[k]he would set one upon his throne; ³¹ he foreseeing this spake of the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he left unto Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. ³² This Jesus did God raise up, ^[l]whereof we all are witnesses. ³³ Being therefore ^[m]by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he hath poured forth this, which ye see and hear. ³⁴ For David ascended not into the heavens: but he saith himself,

³⁶ Let ^[o]all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly, that God hath made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified.

³⁷ Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do? ³⁸ And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him. ⁴⁰ And with many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation. ⁴¹ They then ^[p]that received his word were baptized: and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls. ⁴² And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ teaching and ^[q]fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers.

⁴³ And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles^[r]. ⁴⁴ And all that believed were together, and had all things common; ⁴⁵ and they sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all, according as any man had need. ⁴⁶ And day by day, continuing stedfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart, ⁴⁷ praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added ^[s]to them day by day those that ^[t]were saved.

3 Now Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. ² And a certain man that was lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the door of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; ³ who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked to receive an alms. ⁴ And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him, with John, said, Look on us. ⁵ And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something from them. ⁶ But Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but what I have, that give I thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk. ⁷ And he took him by the right hand, and raised him up: and immediately his feet and his ankle-bones received strength. ⁸ And leaping up, he stood, and began to walk; and he 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 took knowledge of him, that it was he that sat for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

¹¹ And as he held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the ^[u]porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering. ¹² And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this ^[v]man? or why fasten ye your eyes on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him to walk? ¹³ The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his ^[w]Servant Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied before the face of Pilate, when he had determined to release him. ¹⁴ But ye denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted unto you, ¹⁵ and killed the ^[x]Prince of life; whom God raised from the dead; ^[y]whereof we are witnesses. ¹⁶ And ^[z]by faith in his name hath his name made this man strong, whom ye behold and know: yea, the faith which is through him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. ¹⁷ And now, brethren, I know that in ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. ¹⁸ But the things which God foreshowed by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled. ¹⁹ Repent ye therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that so there may come seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord; ²⁰ and that he may send the Christ who hath been appointed for you, even Jesus: ²¹ whom the heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, whereof God spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that have been from of old. ²² Moses indeed said, ^[aa]A prophet shall the Lord God raise up unto you from among your brethren, ^[ab]like unto me; to him shall ye hearken in all things whatsoever he shall speak unto you. ^23 [ac]And it shall be, that every soul that shall not hearken to that prophet, shall be utterly destroyed from among the people. ²⁴ Yea and all the prophets from Samuel and them that followed after, as many as have spoken, they also told of these days. ²⁵ Ye are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God ^[ad]made with your fathers, saying unto Abraham, ^[ae]And in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. ²⁶ Unto you first God, having raised up his ^[af]Servant, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.

4 And as they spake unto the people, ^[ag]the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, ² being sore troubled because they taught the people, and proclaimed in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. ³ And they laid hands on them, and put them in ward unto the morrow: for it was now eventide. ⁴ But many of them that heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

⁵ And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; ⁶ and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest. ⁷ And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, By what power, or in what name, have ye done this? ⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders, ⁹ if we this day are examined concerning a good deed done to an impotent man, ^[ah]by what means this man is made whole; ¹⁰ be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even in ^[ai]him doth this man stand here before you whole. ¹¹ He is ^[aj]the stone which was set at nought of you the builders, which was made the head of the corner. ¹² And in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved.

¹³ Now when they beheld the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. ¹⁴ And seeing the man that was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. ¹⁵ But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, ¹⁶ saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable ^[ak]miracle hath been wrought through them, is manifest to all that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. ¹⁷ But that it spread no further among the people, let us threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. ¹⁸ And they called them, and charged them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹ But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to hearken unto you rather than unto God, judge ye: ²⁰ for we cannot but speak the things which we saw and heard. ²¹ And they, when they had further threatened them, let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people; for all men glorified God for that which was done. ²² For the man was more than forty years old, on whom this ^[al]miracle of healing was wrought.

²³ And being let go, they came to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said unto them. ²⁴ And they, when they heard it, lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, O ^[am]Lord, ^[an]thou that didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is: ^25 [ao]who by the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father David thy servant, didst say,

²⁷ for of a truth in this city against thy holy ^[at]Servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the ^[au]Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, were gathered together, ²⁸ to do whatsoever thy hand and thy council foreordained to come to pass. ²⁹ And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings: and grant unto thy ^[av]servants to speak thy word with all boldness, ³⁰ while thou stretchest forth thy hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of thy holy ^[aw]Servant Jesus. ³¹ And when they had prayed, the place was shaken wherein they were gathered together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

³² And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul: and not one of them said that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. ³³ And with great power gave the apostles their witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: ^[ax]and great grace was upon them all. ³⁴ For neither was there among them any that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, ³⁵ and laid them at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto each, according as any one had need.

³⁶ And Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, Son of ^[ay]exhortation), a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race, ³⁷ having a field, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

5 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 privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. ³ But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to ^[az]lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? ⁴ While it remained, did it not remain thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power? How is it that thou hast conceived this thing in thy heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. ⁵ And Ananias hearing these words fell down and gave up the ghost: and great fear came upon all that heard it. ⁶ And the ^[ba]young men arose and wrapped him round, and they carried him out 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 unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much. And she said, Yea, for so much. ⁹ But Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to try the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them that have buried thy husband are at the door, and they shall carry thee out. ¹⁰ And she fell down immediately at his feet, and gave up the ghost: and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband. ¹¹ And great fear came upon the whole 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 ^[bb]porch. ¹³ But of the rest durst no man join himself to them: howbeit the people magnified them; ^14 [bc]and believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women: ¹⁵ insomuch that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and ^[bd]couches, that, as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some one of them. ¹⁶ And there also came together the multitude from the cities round about Jerusalem, bringing sick folk, and them that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

¹⁷ But the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy, ¹⁸ and laid hands on the apostles, and put them in public ward. ¹⁹ But an angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them out, and said, ²⁰ Go ye, and stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this Life. ²¹ And when they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison-house to have them brought. ²² But the officers that came found them not in the prison; and they returned, and told, ²³ saying, The prison-house we found shut in all safety, and the keepers standing at the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within. ²⁴ Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were much perplexed concerning them whereunto this would grow. ²⁵ And there came one and told them, Behold, the men whom ye put in the prison are in the temple standing and teaching the people. ²⁶ Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them, but without violence; for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. ²⁷ And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, ²⁸ saying, We strictly charged you not to teach in this name: and behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. ²⁹ But Peter and the apostles answered and said, We must obey God rather than men. ³⁰ The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew, hanging him on a tree. ³¹ Him did God exalt ^[be]with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins. ³² And we are witnesses ^[bf]of these ^[bg]things; ^[bh]and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

³³ But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and were minded to slay them. ³⁴ But there stood up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in honor of all the people, and commanded to put the men forth a little while. ³⁵ And he said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves as touching these men, what ye are about to do. ³⁶ For before these days rose up Theudas, giving himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed, and came to nought. ³⁷ After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the enrolment, and drew away some of the people after him: he also perished; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad. ³⁸ And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will be overthrown: ³⁹ but if it is of God, ye will not be able to overthrow them; lest haply ye be found even to be fighting against God. ⁴⁰ And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles unto them, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. ⁴¹ They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name. ⁴² And every day, in the temple and at home, they ceased not to teach and to ^[bi]preach Jesus as the Christ.

6 Now in these days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring of the ^[bj]Grecian Jews against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. ² And the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not ^[bk]fit that we should forsake the word of God, and ^[bl]serve tables. ^3 [bm]Look ye out therefore, brethren, from among you seven men of good report, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. ⁴ But we will continue stedfastly in prayer, and in the ministry of the word. ⁵ And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus a proselyte of Antioch; ⁶ whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands upon them.

⁷ And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

⁸ And Stephen, full of grace and power, wrought great wonders and signs among the people. ⁹ But there arose certain of them that were of the synagogue called the synagogue of the ^[bn]Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen. ¹⁰ And they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spake. ¹¹ Then they suborned men, who said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. ¹² And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and seized him, and brought him into the council, ¹³ and set up false witnesses, who said, This man ceaseth not to speak words against this holy place, and the law: ¹⁴ for we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered unto us. ¹⁵ And all that sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

7 And the high priest said, Are these things so? ² And he said,

Brethren and fathers, hearken: The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, ³ and said unto him, Get thee out of thy land, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall show thee. ⁴ Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Haran: and from thence, when his father was dead, God removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell: ⁵ and he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: and he promised that he would give it to him in possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child. ⁶ And God spake on this wise, that his seed should sojourn in a strange land, and that they should bring them into bondage, and treat them ill, four hundred years. ⁷ And the nation to which they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place. ⁸ And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob the twelve patriarchs. ⁹ And the patriarchs, moved with jealousy against Joseph, sold him into Egypt: and God was with him, ¹⁰ and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. ¹¹ Now there came a famine over all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance. ¹² But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent forth our fathers the first time. ¹³ And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph’s race became manifest unto Pharaoh. ¹⁴ And Joseph sent, and called to him Jacob his father, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls. ¹⁵ And Jacob went down into Egypt; and he died, himself and our fathers; ¹⁶ and they were carried over unto Shechem, and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a price in silver of the sons of ^[bo]Hamor in Shechem. ¹⁷ But as the time of the promise drew nigh which God vouchsafed unto Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, ¹⁸ till there arose another king over Egypt, who knew not Joseph. ¹⁹ The same dealt craftily with our race, and ill-treated our fathers, that ^[bp]they should cast out their babes to the end they might not ^[bq]live. ²⁰ At which season Moses was born, and was ^[br]exceeding fair; and he was nourished three months in his father’s house: ²¹ and when he was cast out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son. ²² And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians; and he was mighty in his words and works. ²³ But when he was well-nigh forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. ²⁴ And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, smiting the Egyptian: ²⁵ and he supposed that his brethren understood that God by his hand was giving them ^[bs]deliverance; but they understood not. ²⁶ And the day following he appeared unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another? ²⁷ But he that did his neighbor wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? ²⁸ Wouldest thou kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian yesterday? ²⁹ And Moses fled at this saying, and became a sojourner in the land of Midian, where he begat two sons. ³⁰ And when forty years were fulfilled, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. ³¹ And when Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold, there came a voice of the Lord, ³² I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob. And Moses trembled, and durst not behold. ³³ And the Lord said unto him, Loose the shoes from thy feet: for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. ³⁴ I have surely seen the affliction of my people that is in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I am come down to deliver them: and now come, I will send thee into Egypt. ³⁵ This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? him hath God sent to be both a ruler and a ^[bt]deliverer with the hand of the angel that appeared to him in the bush. ³⁶ This man led them forth, having wrought wonders and signs in Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years. ³⁷ This is that Moses, who said unto the children of Israel, ^[bu]A prophet shall God raise up unto you from among your brethren, ^[bv]like unto me. ³⁸ This is he that was in the ^[bw]church in the wilderness with the angel that spake to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received living oracles to give unto us: ³⁹ to whom our fathers would not be obedient, but thrust him from them, and turned back in their hearts unto Egypt, ⁴⁰ saying unto Aaron, Make us gods that shall go before us: for as for this Moses, who led us forth out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him. ⁴¹ And they made a calf in those days, and brought a sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their hands. ⁴² But God turned, and gave them up to serve the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets,

⁴⁴ Our fathers had the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness, even as he appointed who spake unto Moses, that he should make it according to the figure that he had seen. ⁴⁵ Which also our fathers, in their turn, brought in with ^[by]Joshua when they entered on the possession of the ^[bz]nations, that God thrust out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David; ⁴⁶ who found favor in the sight of God, and asked to find a habitation for the God of Jacob. ⁴⁷ But Solomon built him a house. ⁴⁸ Howbeit the Most High dwelleth not in houses made with hands; as saith the prophet,

⁵¹ Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do ye. ⁵² Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? and they killed them that showed before of the coming of the Righteous One; of whom ye have now become betrayers and murderers; ⁵³ ye who received the law ^[cb]as it was ordained by angels, and kept it not.

⁵⁴ Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. ⁵⁵ But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, ⁵⁶ and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. ⁵⁷ But they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and rushed upon him with one accord; ⁵⁸ and they cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. ⁵⁹ And they stoned Stephen, calling upon the Lord, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. ⁶⁰ And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.