Bible in 90 Days

Witnesses to Jesus in the Face of the World’s Hatred^[a]

Chapter 16

The Spirit of Truth, Our Guide to All Truth^[b]

Triumph of Jesus and the Joy of the Witnesses^[c]

¹⁷ Then some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying to us, ‘In a little while you will no longer see me, and then a short time later you will see me again,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’? ¹⁸ What is this ‘little while’? We do not know what he means.”

¹⁹ Jesus knew that they wanted to question him, so he said to them,

²⁹ “At last you are speaking plainly,” his disciples said, “and not using figures of speech. ³⁰ Now we realize that you know everything and do not need to have anyone question you. Because of this, we believe that you came from God.” ³¹ Jesus responded,

The Priestly Prayer of Jesus^[d]

Chapter 17

Knowledge of the Father and the Son.^{[e] 1} After saying this, Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said,

The Son and the Disciples^[f]

The Disciples and the Church To Come^[h]

The Passion—The Supreme Testimony^[i]

Chapter 18

Jesus Gives Himself Up Freely.^{[j] 1} After Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples and crossed the Kidron^[k] valley. He and his disciples entered a garden there. ² This place was known to Judas, his betrayer, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. ³ Therefore, Judas went to that garden with a detachment of soldiers,^[l] together with temple guards provided by the chief priests and the Pharisees, equipped with lanterns and torches and weapons.

⁴ Then Jesus, fully aware of everything that was going to happen to him, came forward and asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” ⁵ They answered, “Jesus the Nazorean.”^[m] Jesus replied, “I am.” Judas who betrayed him was standing with them.

⁶ When Jesus said to them, “I am,” they drew back and fell to the ground. ⁷ Again, he asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazorean.” ⁸ Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am. If you are looking for me, let these men go.” ⁹ This was to fulfill the word he had spoken, “I did not lose any of those you gave me.”^[n]

¹⁰ Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, slicing off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. ¹¹ Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its scabbard! Am I not to drink the cup^[o] that the Father has given me?”

¹² Jesus and Peter at the Hour of Bearing Witness.^[p]Then the detachment of soldiers, their commander, and the Jewish guards seized Jesus and bound him. ¹³ They took him first to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was the high priest that year. ¹⁴ It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it was better for one man to die for the people.

¹⁵ Peter’s First Denial. Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. That disciple was known to the high priest, so he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, ¹⁶ but Peter remained standing outside at the gate. The other disciple who was known to the high priest went out and spoke to the woman who was in charge of the gate, and he brought Peter inside.

¹⁷ The woman said to Peter, “Are you not one of this man’s disciples?” He replied, “I am not.” ¹⁸ Since it was cold, the servants and the guards had made a charcoal fire, and they were standing around it, warming themselves. Peter was also standing there and warming himself.

¹⁹ The Inquiry before Annas.^[q]The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. ²⁰ Jesus answered,

^22 [r]When he had said this, one of the temple guards standing there struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that any way to answer the high priest?” ²³ Jesus replied, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify to my error. But if I have spoken rightly, why did you strike me?” ²⁴ Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas, the high priest.

²⁵ Peter’s Second and Third Denials. Meanwhile, as Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, “Are you not also one of his disciples?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” ²⁶ Then one of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had sliced off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” ²⁷ Again, Peter denied it. And at that very moment, a cock crowed.

²⁸ Jesus Handed Over to Pilate.^[s]Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to the praetorium.^[t] It was early in the morning, and they did not enter the praetorium in order to avoid becoming defiled and thus be able to eat the Passover meal.

²⁹ Therefore, Pilate went out to them and asked, “What charge do you bring against this man?” ³⁰ They answered, “If he were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” ³¹ Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.” The Jews replied, “We are not allowed to put anyone to death.” ³² This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.

³³ The First Hearing before Pilate. Then Pilate went back into the praetorium, and having summoned Jesus he asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” ³⁴ Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own, or have others told you about me?” ³⁵ Pilate said, “Am I a Jew? Your own people and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” ³⁶ Jesus replied,

³⁷ Pilate then said to him, “So you are a king!” Jesus answered,

³⁸ Pilate responded, “What is truth?”

Barabbas Preferred to Jesus. Then, having said this, he went out again to the Jews and said, “I find no evidence of a crime in this man. ³⁹ But according to your custom, I release one prisoner to you at Passover. Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” ⁴⁰ They shouted, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a thief.^[u]

Chapter 19

Behold, the Man! ¹ Then Pilate ordered that Jesus be scourged.^{[v] 2} The soldiers twisted together some thorns into a crown and placed it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. ³ They kept going up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews,” while striking him on the face repeatedly.

⁴ Once again, Pilate went out and said to the Jews, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no evidence of a crime in him.” ⁵ Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold, the man!”

⁶ When they saw him, the chief priests and the temple guards shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him. I find no evidence of a crime in him.” ⁷ The Jews answered, “We have a Law, and according to that Law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God.”

The Second Hearing before Pilate. ⁸ Now when Pilate heard this, he was more frightened than ever. ⁹ Returning to the praetorium, he asked Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus offered no response. ¹⁰ Pilate then said to him, “Are you refusing to speak to me? Do you not realize that I have the power to release you and the power to crucify you?” ¹¹ Jesus answered him,

¹² Jesus Is Condemned to Death. From that moment on, Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you release this man, you are no Friend of Caesar.^[w] Everyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.”

¹³ When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and seated him on the judge’s bench at a place known as the Stone Pavement^[x] (in Hebrew, “Gabbatha”). ¹⁴ It was the day of Preparation for the Passover, and it was about noon.^[y] Pilate said to the Jews, “Behold, your King!” ¹⁵ They shouted, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” “Am I to crucify your King?” Pilate asked them. The chief priests replied, “We have no king but Caesar.” ¹⁶ Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.

Jesus Is Crucified. Then they took him away, ¹⁷ and, carrying the cross^[z] by himself, he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, “Golgotha”). ¹⁸ There they crucified him^[aa] along with two others, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle.

¹⁹ Pilate also had an inscription written and fastened to the cross. It read, “Jesus the Nazorean, King of the Jews.”^{[ab] 20} This inscription, in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, was read by many Jews, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city. ²¹ Therefore, the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “You should not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man claimed to be the King of the Jews.’ ” ²² Pilate responded, “What I have written, I have written.”^[ac]

^23 [ad]When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four shares, one share for each soldier. They also took his tunic, which was woven seamless, top to bottom. ²⁴ They said to one another, “Instead of tearing it, let us cast lots for it to see who is to get it.” In this way, the Scripture was fulfilled that says,

And that is what the soldiers did.

²⁵ Mary and John at the Cross. Standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶ When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” ²⁷ Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

²⁸ Jesus Dies on the Cross. After this, aware that everything had now been completed, and in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I thirst.” ²⁹ A jar filled with sour wine was standing nearby, so they soaked a sponge in the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it up to his lips. ³⁰ When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.”^[ae] Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

³¹ The Blood and the Water. It was the day of Preparation, and the Jews did not want to have the bodies remain on the cross on the Sabbath, especially since that Sabbath day was a great solemnity. Therefore, they requested Pilate to order that their legs be broken and the bodies taken down.

³² So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and then of the other who had been crucified with him. ³³ However, when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, ³⁴ but one of the soldiers thrust a lance into his side, and immediately a flow of blood and water came forth. ³⁵ An eyewitness has testified to this, and his testimony is true. He knows that what he says is true, so that you also may believe.

³⁶ This happened so that the Scripture might be fulfilled,

³⁷ And again, in another passage Scripture says,

³⁸ Jesus Is Buried.^[af] Shortly thereafter, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate for permission to remove the body of Jesus. Pilate granted him permission, and so he came and took his body away.

³⁹ Nicodemus, who had first come to Jesus at night, also came, bringing with him a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about one hundred pounds.^{[ag] 40} They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, in accordance with the burial custom of the Jews.

⁴¹ At the place where Jesus had been crucified there was a garden, and in that garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been buried. ⁴² And so, since it was the Jewish day of Preparation and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

The Appearances of the Risen One^[ah]

Chapter 20

The Mystery of the Empty Tomb.^{[ai] 1} Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been moved away from the tomb. ² Therefore, she ran to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him.”

³ Then Peter and the other disciple set out and made their way toward the tomb. ⁴ They both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵ He bent down and saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.

⁶ When Simon Peter caught up with him, he entered the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, ⁷ and also the cloth that had covered his head not lying with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. ⁸ Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went inside, and he saw and believed. ⁹ They still did not understand the Scripture indicating that he must rise from the dead. ¹⁰ Then the disciples returned to their homes.

¹¹ Mary Magdalene Recognizes Jesus.^[aj] Mary Magdalene remained weeping outside the tomb. And as she wept, she bent down to look into the tomb, ¹² and she saw two angels in white sitting there where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head and the other at the feet. ¹³ They asked her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She answered, “They have taken my Lord away, and I do not know where they have put him.”

¹⁴ As she said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. ¹⁵ Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have removed him, tell me where you have put him, and I will take him away.” ¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!”^[ak] (which means “Teacher”).

¹⁷ Jesus then said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brethren and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”^{[al] 18} Mary Magdalene then went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and repeated what he had said to her.

¹⁹ Jesus Appears to the Disciples.^[am] On the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors of the house where the disciples had gathered were locked because of their fear of the Jews. Jesus then came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” ²⁰ After saying this, he showed them his hands and his side.

The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord. ²¹ “Peace be with you,” Jesus said to them again.

²² After saying this, he breathed on them and said,

²⁴ Jesus Appears to Thomas.^[an] Now Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the Twelve, was not with the rest when Jesus came. ²⁵ When the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord,” he replied, “Unless I see the mark of the nails on his hands and put my finger into the place where the nails pierced and insert my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

²⁶ Eight days later, the disciples were again in the house, and on this occasion Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and he said, “Peace be with you.” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Do not doubt any longer, but believe.” ²⁸ Thomas exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!” ²⁹ Then Jesus said to him,

³⁰ Believe in Order To Live.^[ao] Now Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not recorded in this work. ³¹ But those written here have been recorded so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through your belief you may have life in his name.

Epilogue

Chapter 21

Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples.^{[ap] 1} Some time later, Jesus once again revealed himself to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, in the following manner. ² Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were gathered together. ³ Simon Peter said to them, “I am going out to fish.” The others replied, “We will go with you.” They set off and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

⁴ Shortly after daybreak, Jesus was standing on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. ⁵ Jesus called out, “Children, have you caught anything?” When they answered, “No,” ⁶ he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” They did so, and they were unable to haul the net on board because of the great number of fish.

⁷ Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard him say that it was the Lord, he wrapped his outer garment around him, for he had taken it off, and jumped into the sea. ⁸ The other disciples came in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from land, only about one hundred yards.

⁹ When they came ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. ¹⁰ Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” ¹¹ Simon Peter went on board and dragged the net ashore, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three of them. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.

¹² Jesus then said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew that it was the Lord. ¹³ Jesus then came forward, took the bread, and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. ¹⁴ This was now the third time that Jesus revealed himself to his disciples after his resurrection from the dead.

¹⁵ Jesus and Peter.^[aq] When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

¹⁶ Jesus said to him again, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

¹⁷ Jesus said to him a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” “Lord,” he said to him, “you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

¹⁹ He said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. After this, he said to him, “Follow me.”

²⁰ The Beloved Disciple.^[ar] Peter looked around and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them—the one who had reclined next to Jesus at the supper and had asked, “Lord, who is it that will betray you?” ²¹ When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” ²² Jesus replied, “If it should be my will that he remain until I come, how does that concern you? Follow me!”

²³ The saying then spread among the brethren that this disciple would not die. However, Jesus had not said to Peter, “He will not die,” but, “If it should be my will that he remain until I come, how does that concern you?”

²⁴ Signature of the Redactors.^[as] This is the disciple who testifies to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true. ²⁵ But there are also many other things that Jesus did; and if every one of them was recorded, I do not think the world itself could contain the books that would be written.

At Jerusalem^[at]

From Jesus to the Community of the Lord^[au]

Chapter 1

Prologue.^{[av] 1} In my previous book, Theophilus,^[aw] I wrote of everything that Jesus did and taught from the beginning ² until the day he was taken up, after first giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.

The Promise of the Spirit.^{[ax] 3} After his passion Jesus had presented himself alive to them by many proofs. He appeared to them during forty days and spoke to them about the kingdom of God. ⁴ When they were gathered together, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, saying, “Wait there for the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak. ⁵ For John baptized with water, but within a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

⁶ As they were all gathered together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you are going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷ He replied, “It is not for you to know the dates or the times that the Father has designated by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem, but throughout Judea and Samaria, and indeed to the farthest ends of the earth.”

The Ascension of Jesus.^{[ay] 9} After he said this, he was lifted up as they looked on, and a cloud took him from their sight. ¹⁰ While he was departing as they gazed upward toward the sky, suddenly two men dressed in white robes stood beside them, ¹¹ and they said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking up into the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come back in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”

¹² The First Community Waiting for the Spirit. Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, no farther distant than a Sabbath day’s journey.^{[az] 13} When they arrived, they went to the upper room where they were staying: Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. ¹⁴ All of these were constantly engaged in prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.^[ba]

¹⁵ The Choice of Judas’s Successor.^[bb] In those days, Peter stood up before the assembled brothers, numbering about one hundred and twenty, and said, ¹⁶ “Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit revealed through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. ¹⁷ He was one of our number and was granted a share in this ministry.

¹⁸ “With the money from his traitorous act, this man purchased a plot of land upon which he fell headlong, and he burst open, all of his entrails pouring out. ¹⁹ The news about this became known to all the people living in Jerusalem, so that in their own language that plot of land was called ‘Hakeldama,’ which means ‘Field of Blood.’^{[bc] 20} For it is written in the Book of Psalms,

And again,

²¹ “Therefore, it is necessary to choose one of the men who have accompanied us during the entire time that the Lord Jesus lived with us, ²² beginning from his baptism by John until the day when he was taken up from us. For he must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”

²³ And so they nominated two candidates: Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. ²⁴ Then they prayed, saying, “Lord, you know the hearts of everyone. Show us which one of these two you have chosen ²⁵ to take the place in this apostolic ministry that Judas abandoned to go to his own place.” ²⁶ Then they cast lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias, who was then added to the eleven apostles.

Pentecost^[bd]

Chapter 2

Descent of the Spirit and Birth of the Church.^{[be] 1} When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all assembled together in one place. ² Suddenly, there came from heaven a sound similar to that of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were sitting. ³ Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which separated and came to rest on each one of them. ⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages,^[bf] as the Spirit enabled them to do so.

⁵ Now staying in Jerusalem there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven. ⁶ At this sound, a large crowd of them gathered, and they were bewildered because each one heard them speaking in his own language.

⁷ They were astounded and asked in amazement, “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? ⁸ How is it then that each of us hears them in his own native language? ⁹ Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,^{[bg] 11} Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own languages about the mighty deeds of God.”

¹² They were all astounded and perplexed, and they said to one another, “What does all this mean?” ¹³ However, others said mockingly, “They are filled with new wine.”

¹⁴ Peter Preaches in the Name of the Twelve.^[bh] Then Peter stood up with the Eleven and proclaimed to them in a loud voice, “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen carefully to my words. ¹⁵ These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It is only nine o’clock in the morning.^{[bi] 16} Rather, this is what was revealed through the prophet Joel:

²² “Men of Israel, hear these words. Jesus of Nazareth was a man commended to you by God by means of miracles and portents and signs that God worked through him, as you yourselves know. ²³ By the set plan and foreknowledge of God, he was handed over into the hands of lawless men. Crucifying him, you killed him. ²⁴ However, God raised him up, releasing him from the pangs of death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. ²⁵ For David says of him:

²⁹ “Brethren, I can say to you boldly that our ancestor David both died and was buried, and his tomb is in our midst to this very day. ³⁰ But since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn an oath to him that one of his descendants would sit on his throne, ³¹ he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, saying that he was not abandoned to the netherworld and that his flesh did not suffer corruption.

³² “God raised this Jesus to life. Of that we are all witnesses. ³³ Exalted at God’s right hand, he received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. ³⁴ For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,

³⁶ “Therefore, let the whole house of Israel know with complete certitude that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.”

³⁷ When they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “What are we to do, brethren?” ³⁸ Peter answered, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For the promise that was made is for you, for your children, and for all those who are far away, for all those whom the Lord our God will call.”

⁴⁰ Life of the First Community—I.^[bj] He offered further testimony with many other arguments as he exhorted them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” ⁴¹ Those who accepted his message were baptized, and on that day about three thousand people were added to their number. ⁴² They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayers.

⁴³ A sense of awe was felt by all for many wonders and signs were performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and owned everything in common. ⁴⁵ They would sell their property and possessions and distribute the proceeds to all according to what each one needed. ⁴⁶ Every day, united in spirit, they would assemble together in the temple. They would break bread in their homes and share their food with joyful and generous hearts ⁴⁷ as they praised God, and they were regarded with favor by all the people. And day by day the Lord added to those who were being saved.

First Encounter with the Authorities in Israel

Chapter 3

In the Name of Jesus Christ, Walk!^{[bk] 1} One day, Peter and John were on their way to the temple for the hour of prayer at three o’clock in the afternoon.^{[bl] 2} A man who had been crippled from his birth was carried there every day and laid at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate^[bm] so that he could beg for alms from those who entered the temple.

³ When this man saw Peter and John about to enter into the temple, he asked them for alms. ⁴ Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said to him, “Look at us!” ⁵ He looked at them attentively, expecting to receive something from them. ⁶ But Peter said, “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.”

⁷ Then Peter grasped him by the right hand and helped him to get up. Immediately, his feet and ankles were strengthened. ⁸ He jumped up, stood straight, and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. ⁹ When all the people there saw him walking and praising God, ¹⁰ they recognized him as the man who used to sit and beg for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

¹¹ Peter Speaks to the People.^[bn] While he continued to cling to Peter and John, all the people came running in amazement toward them in Solomon’s Portico, as it is called. ¹² When Peter saw the people assembling, he addressed them:

“Men of Israel, why are you so surprised at this? Why do you stare at us, as though we had enabled this man to walk by our own power or holiness? ¹³ The God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his servant^[bo] Jesus whom you handed over and disowned in the presence of Pilate after he had decided to release him. ¹⁴ You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. ¹⁵ The author of life^[bp] you put to death, but God raised him from the dead. Of this we are witnesses.

¹⁶ “By faith in his name, this man whom you see here and who is known to you has been made strong. Faith in him has made him completely well in the presence of all of you.

¹⁷ “Now I am aware, brethren, that you acted out of ignorance as did your rulers. ¹⁸ God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the Prophets, revealing that his Christ would suffer. ¹⁹ Repent, therefore, and be converted so that your sins may be wiped away, ²⁰ that a time of refreshment may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, that is, Jesus. ²¹ He must remain in heaven until the time comes for the universal restoration announced by God in ages past through his holy Prophets. ²² For Moses said,

²⁴ “Furthermore, all the Prophets who have spoken, from Samuel onward, predicted these days.

²⁵ “You are the heirs of the Prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors when he told Abraham, ‘And in your descendants all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ ²⁶ When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each one of you from your wicked ways.”

Chapter 4

First Phase of the Trial: A Warning.^{[bq] 1} While they were still speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard,^[br] and the Sadducees came over to them, ² greatly annoyed that they were teaching and proclaiming to the people the resurrection of the dead through Jesus. ³ Therefore, they arrested them and placed them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. ⁴ However, many of those who had listened to their message became believers, their total approaching five thousand.

⁵ On the next day, their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, ⁶ with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John,^[bs] Alexander, and all who belonged to the high priestly family. ⁷ They then brought the apostles before them and asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”

⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, ⁹ if you are interrogating us today in regard to a good deed done to someone who was crippled and how he was healed, ¹⁰ let it be known to you and to all the people of Israel that it was in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom you crucified, and whom God raised from the dead, that this man standing before you was cured. ¹¹ This is

¹² There is no salvation in anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to men by which we can be saved.”

¹³ They were amazed to see the fearlessness shown by Peter and John and to discover that they were uneducated ordinary men. They recognized them as companions of Jesus, ¹⁴ but, when they saw the man who had been cured standing beside them, they could not say anything in reply. ¹⁵ They ordered them to stand outside while the Sanhedrin discussed the matter.

¹⁶ Then they said, “What are we going to do with these men? Everyone living in Jerusalem is aware that a notable sign has been worked through them, and we clearly cannot deny it. ¹⁷ But to stop the news from spreading any further among the people, let us issue them a warning never again to speak to anyone in his name.”

¹⁸ Therefore, they summoned them back and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹ However, Peter and John answered them, “You be the judges about whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God. ²⁰ We cannot possibly refrain from speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

²¹ After threatening them once again, they released them, for they could find no way to punish them inasmuch as the people were praising God for what had happened. ²² For the man who had been miraculously healed was over forty years old.

²³ The Community’s Prayer for the Apostles.^[bt] As soon as they were released, they went back^[bu] to the community and reported everything that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴ When they heard it, they raised their voices to God with one accord and said, “Lord, maker of heaven and earth and the sea and of everything that is in them, ²⁵ you said by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of our ancestor David, your servant,

²⁷ “Indeed, in this very city both Herod and Pontius Pilate along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel plotted against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, ²⁸ to do whatever your hand and your decree had predestined to take place. ²⁹ And now, O Lord, be aware of their threats, and grant that your servants may proclaim your word with all boldness, ³⁰ as you stretch out your hand to heal and as signs and wonders are accomplished through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

³¹ When they had finished their prayer, the place where they were gathered together shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and proclaimed the word of God fearlessly.

³² Life of the First Community—II.^[bv] The entire community of believers was united in heart and soul. No one claimed any of his possessions as his own, for everything was held in common. ³³ With great power, the apostles bore witness to the resurrection^[bw] of the Lord Jesus, and they were all greatly respected. ³⁴ There was never anyone among them in need, because those who were the owners of lands or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, ³⁵ and lay them at the feet of the apostles, to be distributed to any who were in need.

³⁶ Barnabas.^[bx] One such instance involved Joseph, a Levite and a native of Cyprus, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas, meaning “son of encouragement.” ³⁷ He sold a field that belonged to him and then brought the money to the apostles and laid it at their feet.

Chapter 5

The Fraud of Ananias and Sapphira.^{[by] 1} There was a man named Ananias who with his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property. ² With the approval of his wife, he held back some of the proceeds, and he brought the remainder to the apostles and laid it at their feet.

³ Then Peter asked, “Ananias, why has Satan so gained control of your heart that you lied to the Holy Spirit and retained part of the sale price of the land? ⁴ While it remained unsold, did it not belong to you? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds yours? What caused you to contrive this scheme? You have lied not to men but to God.”

⁵ When Ananias heard these words, he collapsed and died, and a great sense of fear seized all who heard about it. ⁶ The young men came forward and wrapped up his body. Then they carried him out and buried him.

⁷ After about three hours, his wife came in, unaware of what had happened. ⁸ Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for this much.” She replied, “Yes, that was the price.” ⁹ Then Peter asked her, “Why did the two of you agree to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Listen! The footsteps of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will also carry you out.”

¹⁰ Instantly, she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in, they found her dead. And so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ And a great sense of fear seized the whole Church^[bz] and all those who heard of this.

¹² Life of the First Community—III.^[ca] Many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles. They all used to assemble in Solomon’s Portico. ¹³ No one else dared to join them, but the people esteemed them highly. ¹⁴ More believers, men and women, were constantly being added to their ranks. ¹⁵ People brought those who were sick into the streets and placed them on cots and mats so that when Peter passed by, his shadow might fall on some of them. ¹⁶ A large number of people also came from the neighboring towns around Jerusalem, bringing with them the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and all of them were cured.

¹⁷ Conclusion of the Trial.^[cb] Then the high priest and his colleagues from the party of the Sadducees rose up, filled with jealousy, ¹⁸ and they arrested the apostles and placed them in the public jail. ¹⁹ But during the night the angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, led them out, and said, ²⁰ “Go, stand in the temple, and tell the people everything about this new life.” ²¹ Accordingly, they entered the temple at daybreak and taught the people.

When the high priest and his colleagues arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin, the full assembly of the elders of Israel, and sent to the jail to have them brought in. ²² But when the temple police went to the prison, they did not find them there. So they returned and announced, ²³ “We found the jail securely locked and the guards stationed outside the doors, but when we opened the doors we found no one inside.”

²⁴ Now when the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report, they were at a loss to understand what this would come to. ²⁵ Then someone arrived to report, “The men whom you imprisoned are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” ²⁶ The captain thereupon went with the temple officers and brought them in, although without force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

²⁷ When they had brought them in, they had them stand before the Sanhedrin. The high priest questioned them, saying, ²⁸ “Did we not give you strict orders not to teach in this name? Yet, despite that, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you appear determined to hold us responsible for that man’s death.”

²⁹ Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men. ³⁰ The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus after you had put him to death by hanging him on a tree. ³¹ God exalted him at his right hand as leader and Savior so that he might grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. ³² And we are witnesses to these things, as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”

³³ When they heard this, they became enraged, and they wanted to put them to death. ³⁴ However, one member of the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee named Gamaliel who was a teacher of the law and respected by all the people, stood up and ordered that the apostles be sent outside for a little while.

³⁵ Then he addressed them, “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. ³⁶ Some time ago Theudas^[cc] appeared. He claimed to be someone important, and about four hundred men decided to follow him. He was killed, and all of his followers disbanded, and everything came to naught. ³⁷ After him, Judas the Galilean rose up at the time of the census. He also convinced people to follow him, but he too was killed and his followers were dispersed.

³⁸ “Therefore, I advise you to keep away from these men and let them go. If this movement is human in origin, it will fail. ³⁹ If, however, it comes from God, you will never be able to overcome them, but may find yourselves fighting against God.”

His words persuaded them. ⁴⁰ After they summoned the apostles once again, they had them scourged. Then, ordering them not to speak in the name of Jesus, they released them. ⁴¹ They left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer humiliation for the sake of the name.^{[cd] 42} And every day, both in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming Jesus as the Christ.

Jerusalem, First Center of Diffusion^[ce]

Chapter 6

Institution of the Seven Deacons.^{[cf] 1} In those days, as the number of disciples grew, the Hellenists made a complaint against the Hebrews,^[cg] asserting that their own widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. ² And so the Twelve called together the entire community of disciples and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. ³ Therefore, brethren, we direct you to select from among you seven^[ch] men of good reputation, men filled with the Spirit and with wisdom, to whom we may assign this task. ⁴ We will then be able to devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

⁵ The entire community found this proposal to be acceptable, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch who was a convert to Judaism. ⁶ They then presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid hands on them.^[ci]

⁷ The word of God continued to spread ever more widely. The number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.