And He led them out as far as to Bethany, and HE lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while He blessed them, HE was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing GOD. Amen.

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES.

AND in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, 'Men and brethren, this Scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the HOLY GHOST by the 'mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took JESUS. For it is written in 'the book of Psalms, "Let his habitation be desolate, and 'let no man dwell therein and his bishopric let another 'take." Wherefore of these men which have companied ' with us all the time that the LORD JESUS went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John, unto that ¿ same day that He was taken up from us, must one be ' ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.'

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And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the HOLY GHOST, and began to speak with other tongues, as the SPIRIT gave them utterance.

And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, 'Behold, are not all these which 'speak Galilæans? And how hear we every man in our

own tongue, wherein we were born?' And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, 'What 'meaneth this?'

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, 'This is that which was spoken 'by the prophet Joel: "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith GOD, 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: and on my servants ' and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: and it shall come 'to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the 'LORD shall be saved."

'Ye men of Israel, hear these words: JESUS of Nazareth, a man approved of GOD among you by miracles and 'wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst

' of you, as ye yourselves also know him, being delivered 'by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, 'ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain whom God hath raised up, having loosed the 'pains of death: because it was not possible that He should 'be holden of it.

'Therefore being by the right hand of GoD exalted, and ' having received of the FATHER the promise of the HOLY GHOST, HE hath shed forth this, which ye now see and 'hear. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, 'that God hath made that same JESUS, whom ye have 'crucified, both LORD and CHRIST.'

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said, 'Men and brethren, what shall we do?' Then Peter said unto them, 'Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of JESUS CHRIST, and ye 'shall receive the gift of the HOLY GHOST.'

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized : and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain lame man was laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, 'Look on us.' And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of JESUS CHRIST of 'Nazareth rise up and walk.' And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up and immediately his feet

and ancle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising GOD. And all the people saw him walking and praising GOD: and they knew that it was he which 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.

And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering. And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, 'Why marvel 'ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though 'by our own power or holiness we had made this man to 'walk? The God of our fathers hath glorified his Son 'JESUS; whom ye delivered up, and denied in the pre'sence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. 'But ye denied the HOLY ONE and the JUST, and desired

a murderer to be granted unto you; and killed the 'PRINCE OF LIFE, whom God hath raised from the dead; ' whereof we are witnesses. And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see ' and know.'

And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through JESUS the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day for it was now eventide. Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And

when they had set them in the midst, they asked, 'By 'what power, or by what name, have ye done this?' Then Peter, filled with the HOLY GHOST, said unto them, 'Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 'if we this day be examined of the good deed done 'to the impotent man, by what means he is made 'whole; be it known unto you all, that by the name ' of JESUS CHRIST of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom 'GOD raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. Neither is there 'salvation in any other: for there is none other name ' under heaven given among men, whereby we must be 'saved.'

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with JESUS. And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, saying, 'What shall we do to these men? for that ' indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is 'manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we 'cannot deny it. But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak 'henceforth to no man in this name.' And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of JESUS.

But Peter and John answered, 'Whether it be right in 'the sight of GOD to hearken unto you more than unto GOD, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things 'which we have seen and heard.' So when they had