not for you to know the times or moments, which the Father hath put in his own power:

8 But you shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the uttermost part of the earth.

9 And when he had said these things, while they looked on, he was raised up: and a cloud received him out of their sight.

10 And while they were beholding him going up to heaven, behold two men stood by them in white garments.

11 Who also said: Yemen of Galilee, why stand you looking up to heaven This JESUS who is taken up from you into heaven, shall eo come as you have seen him going into heaven.

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem, from the mount that is called Olivet, which is nigh Jerusalem, within a sabbathday's journey.

13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James of Alpheus and Simon Zelotes, and Jude the brother of James.

14 All these were persevering with one mind in prayer with the women, and Mary the mother of JESUS, and with his brethren.

15 In those days Peter rising up in the midst of the brethren, said: (now the number of persons together was about an hundred and twenty)

16 Men brethren, the scrip

Infra, 2. 2.- Luke 24 48.

ture must needs be blfilled, which the Holy Ghost spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was the leader of them that apprehended JESUS:

17 Who was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.

18 And he indeed hath po sessed a field of the reward of iniquity, and being hanged burst asunder in the midst: and all his bowels gushed out.

19 And it became known to all the inhabitants ofJerusalem: so that the same field was called in their tongue, haceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.

20 For it is written in the book of Psalms: Let their habitation become desolate, and let there be none to dwell therein. And his bishoprick let another take.

21 Wherefore of these men who have companied with us, all the time that the Lord JESUS came in and went out among us,

22 Beginning from the baptism of John until the day wherein he was taken up from us, one of these must be made. a witness with us of his resurrection.

23 And they appointed two, Joseph, called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Mat

thias.

24 And praying they said: Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,

25 To take the place of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas hath by transgres

c Ps. 40. 10. John 13. 18.-d Natt 27. 7.- Pa. 68. 26-f Ps. 108. 8..

cion fallen, that he might go to his own place.

26 And they gave them lots, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

CHAP. II.

The disciples receive the Holy Ghost. Peter's sermon to the people. piety of the first converts.

9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and. inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,

10 Phrygia, and Pamphilia, Egypt, and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome,

11 Jews also, and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians: we have heard them speak in our own

pentecost were accomplished, they were altogether in one place:

2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a mighty wind coming, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

8 And there appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire, and it sat upon every one of them:

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they began to speak with divers tongues, according as the Holy Ghost gave them to speak.

5 Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men out of every nation under heaven.

God.

12 And they were all astonished, and wondered, saying one to another: What meaneth this?

13 But others mocking said: These men are full of new wine.

14 But Peter standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke to them: Ye men of Judea, and all you that dwell in Jerusalem, be this known to you, and with your ears receive my words.

15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

16 But this is that which was spoken of by the prophet Joel:

7 And they were all amazed and wondered, saying: Behold are not all these, that speak, Galileans?

8 And how have we heard, every man our own tongue wherein we were born?

18 And upon my servants indeed, and upon my handmaids will I pour out in those days of my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

19 And I will shew wonders in the heaven above, and signs on the earth beneath; blood and fire, and vapour of smoke.

b Isaias 44. 3. Joel 2. 28.

21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved. 22 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 you also know:

23 This same being delivered up, by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you by the hands of wicked men have crucified and slain.

24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the sorrows of hell, as it was impossible that he should be holden by it.

25 For David saith concerning him: I foresaw the Lord before my face: because he is at my right hand that I may not be moved.

26 For this my heart hath been glad, and my tongue hath rejoiced: moreover my Resh also shall rest in hope.

a Joel 2. 32. Rom. 10. 13.-b Ps. 15. 8.

CHAP. II. Ver. 23. By the deter minate, &c. God delivered up his Son; and his Son delivered up himself, for the love of us, and for the sake of our salvation: and so Christ's being delivered up was holy, and was God's own determination. But they who betrayed and crucified him, did wickedly, following therein their own malice and the instigation of the devil; not the will and determination of God, who was by no means the author of their wickedness; though he permitted it; because he could," and did draw out of it so great a good, viz. the salvation of man."

Ver. 24. Having loosed the sorrows, &c. Having overcome the grievous pains of death, and all the power of betl

194

28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life: thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.

29 Ye men brethren, let me freely speak to you of the patriarch David; that he died and was buried; and his sepulchre is with us to this present day.

30 Whereas therefore he was a prophet, and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath that of the fruit of his loins one should sit upon his throne;

31 Foreseeing this, he spoke of the resurrection of Christ. For neither was he left in hell, neither did his flesh see corrup

tion.

32 This JESUS hath God raised again, whereof all we are witnesses.

33 Being exalted therefore by the right hand of God, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath poured forth this which you see and hear.

34 For David ascended not into heaven; but he himself said: The Lord said to my Lord, sit thou on my right hand,

35 Until I make thy enemics thy footstool.

36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know most certainly that God hath made both Lord, and CHRIST, this same JESUS, whom you have crucified.

37 Now when they had heard these things they had compunction in their heart, and

c3 Kings 2. 10.-d Ps. 131. 11.- P 15. 13. Intr 18. 35.- Ps. 109. 1.

said to Peter and to the rest of the apostles: What shall we do, men and brethren?

38 But Peter said to them: Do penance, and be baptized every one of you in the name of JESUS CHRIST, for the remission of your sins: and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

39 For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all that are far off, whomsoever the Lord our God shall call.

40 And with very many other words did he testify and exhort them, saying: Save yourselves from this perverse generation.

41 They therefore that received his word were baptized: and there were added in that day about three thousand souls. 42 And they were persevering in the doctrine of the apostles, and in the communication of the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

43 And fear came upon every soul: many wonders also and signs were done by the apostles in Jerusalem, and there was great fear in all.

44 And all they that believed, weretogether,and had all things

common.

45 Their possessions and goods they sold, and divided them to all, according as every one had need.

46 And continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they took their meat with gladness and simplicity of heart:

47 Praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord increased daily together such as should be saved.

CHAP. III.

The miracle upon the lame man, followed by the conversion of many.

NOW Peter and John went up into the temple, at the ninth hour of prayer.

2 And a certain man who was lame from his mother's womb, was carried; whom they laid every day at the gate of the temple, which is called Beautiful, that he might ask alms of them that went into the temple.

3 He, a when he had seen Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked to receive an alms.

4 But Peter with John fastening his eyes upon him, said: Look upon us.

5 But he looked earnestly upon them, hoping that he should receive something of them.

6 But Peter said: Silver and gold I have none: but what I have, I give thee: in the name of JESUS CHRIST of Nazareth, arise, and walk.

7 And taking him by the right hand, he lifted him up, and forthwith his feet and soles received strength.

8 And he leaping up stood, and walked and went in 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 knew him, that it was he who sat begging almsat 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 Peter and John, all the people ran to them to the porch which is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.

a A.D. 23.

12 But Peter seeing, made answer to the people: Ye men of Israel, why wonder you at this? or why look you upon us, as if by our strength or power we had made this man to walk? 13 The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, bath glorified his Son JESUS, whom you indeed delivered up and denied before the face of Pilate, when he judged he should be released.

14 But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you.

15 But the author of life you killed, whom God hath raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.

16 And in the faith of his name, this man whom you have seen and know, hath his name strengthened; and the faith which is by him, hath given this perfect soundness in the sight of you all.

17 And now, brethren, I know that you did it through ignorance, as did also your rulers.

18 But those things which God before had shewed by the mouth of all the prophets, that his CHRIST should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.

19 Be penitent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.

20 That when the times of refreshment shall come from the presence of the Lord, and he shall send him who hath been preached unto you, JESUS CHRIST,

21 Whom heaven indeed must

a Ma:t. 27. 20. Mark 15. 11. Luke 25. 18. John 18. 40.

receive until the times of the restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of his holy prophets from the beginning of the world. 22 For Moses said: A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me: him you shall hear according to all things whatsoever he shall speak to you.

23 And it shall be, that every soul which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.

24 And all the prophets from Samuel and afterwards, who have spoken, have told of these days.

25 You are the children of the prophets and of the testament which God made to our fathers, saying to Abraham: And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

26 To you first God raising up his Son, hath sent him to bless you: that every one may convert himself from his wickedness.