The Bible (Old and New Testaments)

And it came to pass on the morrow, that their princes and ancients and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem.

And Annas the high priest and Caiphas and John and Alexander: and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest.

And setting them in the midst, they asked: By what power or by what name, have you done this?

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said to them: Ye princes of the people and ancients, hear.

If we this day are examined concerning the good deed done to the infirm man, by what means he hath been made whole:

Be it known to you all and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God hath raised from the dead, even by him, this man standeth here before you, whole.

This is the stone which was rejected by you the builders, which is become the head of the corner.

Neither is there salvation in any other. For there is no other name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved.

Now seeing the constancy of Peter and of John, understanding that they were illiterate and ignorant men, they wondered: and they knew them that they had been with Jesus.

Seeing the man also who had been healed, standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

But they commanded them to go aside out of the council: and they conferred among themselves,

Saying: What shall we do to these men? For indeed a miracle hath been done by them, known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. It is manifest: and we cannot deny it.

But that it may be no farther spread among the people, let us threaten them that they speak no more in this name to any man.

And calling them, they charged them not to speak at all, nor teach in the name of Jesus.

But Peter and John answering, said to them: If it be just, in the sight of God, to hear you rather than God, judge ye.

For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

But they, threatening, sent them away, not finding how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified what had been done, in that which had come to pass.

For the man was above forty years old, in whom that miraculous cure had been wrought.

And being let go, they came to their own company and related all that the chief priests and ancients had said to them.

Who having heard it, with one accord lifted up their voice to God and said: Lord, thou art he that didst make heaven and earth, the sea and all things that are in them.

Who, by the Holy Ghost, by the mouth of our father David, thy servant, hast said: Why did the Gentiles rage: and the people meditate vain things?

The kings of the earth stood up: and the princes assembled together against the Lord and his Christ.

For of a truth there assembled together in this city against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel,

To do what thy hand and thy counsel decreed to be done.

And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants that with all confidence they may speak thy word,

By stretching forth thy hand to cures and signs and wonders, to be done by the name of thy holy Son, Jesus.

And when they had prayed, the place was moved wherein they were assembled: and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost: and they spoke the word of God with confidence.

And the multitude of believers had but one heart and one soul. Neither did any one say that aught of the things which he possessed was his own: but all things were common unto them.

And with great power did the Apostles give testimony of the resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord: and great grace was in them all.

For neither was there any one needy among them. For as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the price of the things they sold,

And laid it down before the feet of the apostles. And distribution was made to every one, according as he had need.

And Joseph, who, by the apostles, was surnamed Barnabas (which is, by interpretation, The son of consolation), a Levite, a Cyprian born,

Having land, sold it and brought the price and laid it at the feet of the Apostles.

But a certain man named Ananias, with Saphira his wife, sold a piece of land,

And by fraud kept back part of the price of the land, his wife being privy thereunto: and bringing a certain part of it, laid it at the feet of the apostles.

But Peter said: Ananias, why hath Satan tempted thy heart, that thou shouldst lie to the Holy Ghost and by fraud keep part of the price of the land?

Whilst it remained, did it not remain to thee? And after it was sold, was it not in thy power? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thy heart? Thou hast not lied to men, but to God.

And Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and gave up the ghost. And there came great fear upon all that heard it.

And the young men rising up, removed him, and carrying him out, buried him.

And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in.

And Peter said to her: Tell me, woman, whether you sold the land for so much? And she said: Yea, for so much.

And Peter said unto her: Why have you agreed together to tempt the spirit of the Lord? Behold the feet of them who have buried thy husband are at the door: and they shall carry thee out,

Immediately, she fell down before his feet and gave up the ghost. And the young men coming in found her dead: and carried her out and buried her by her husband.

And there came great fear upon the whole church and upon all that heard these things.

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.

But of the rest no man durst join himself unto them: but the people magnified them.

And the multitude of men and women who believed in the Lord was more increased:

Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that, when Peter came, his shadow at the least might overshadow any of them and they might be delivered from their infirmities.

And there came also together to Jerusalem a multitude out of the neighbouring cities, bringing sick persons and such as were troubled with unclean spirits: who were all healed.

Then the high priest rising up, and all they that were with him (which is the heresy of the Sadducees) were filled with envy.

And they laid hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison.

But an angel of the Lord by night, opening the doors of the prison and leading them out, said:

Go, and standing speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

Who having heard this, early in the morning, entered into the temple and taught. And the high priest coming, and they that were with him, called together the council and all the ancients of the children of Israel: and they sent to the prison to have them brought.

But when the ministers came and opening the prison found them not there, they returned and told,

Saying: The prison indeed we found shut with all diligence, and the keepers standing before the door: but opening it, we found no man within.

Now when the officer of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were in doubt concerning them, what would come to pass.

But one came and told them: Behold, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.

Then went the officer with the ministers and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned.

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them,

Saying: Commanding, we commanded you that you should not teach in this name. And behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine: and you have a mind to bring the blood of this man upon us.

But Peter and the apostles answering, said: We ought to obey God rather than men.

The God of our fathers hath raised up Jesus, whom you put to death, hanging him upon a tree.

Him hath God exalted with his right hand, to be Prince and Saviour, to give repentance to Israel and remission of sins.

And we are witnesses of these things: and the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to all that obey him.

When they had heard these things, they were cut to the heart: and they thought to put them to death.

But one in the council rising up, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, respected by all the people, commanded the men to be put forth a little while.

And he said to them: Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do, as touching these men.

For before these days rose up Theodas, affirming himself to be somebody, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves. Who was slain: and all that believed him were scattered and brought to nothing.

After this man, rose up Judas of Galilee, in the days of the enrolling, and drew away the people after him. He also perished: and all, even as many as consented to him, were dispersed.

And now, therefore, I say to you: Refrain from these men and let them alone. For if this council or this work be of men, it will come to nought:

But if it be of God, you cannot overthrow it, lest perhaps you be found even to fight against God. And they consented to him.

And calling in the apostles, after they had scourged them, they charged them that they should not speak at all in the name of Jesus. And they dismissed them.

And they indeed went from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Jesus.

And every day they ceased not, in the temple and from house to house, to teach and preach Christ Jesus.

And in those days, the number of the disciples increasing, there arose a murmuring of the Greeks against the Hebrews, for that their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

Then the twelve, calling together the multitude of the disciples, said: It is not reason that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.

Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.

And the saying was liked by all the multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor, and Timon and Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch.

These they set before the apostles: and they praying, imposed hands upon them.

And the word of the Lord increased: and the number of the disciples was multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly. A great multitude also of the priests obeyed the faith.

And Stephen, full of grace and fortitude, did great wonders and signs among the people.

Now there arose some, of that which is called the synagogue of the Libertines and of the Cyrenians and of the Alexandrians and of them that were of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen.

And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit that spoke.

Then they suborned men to say they had heard him speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.

And they stirred up the people and the ancients and the scribes. And running together, they took him and brought him to the council.

And they set up false witnesses, who said: This man ceaseth not to speak words against the holy place and the law.

For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place and shall change the traditions which Moses delivered unto us.

And all that sat in the council, looking on him, saw his face as if it had been the face of an angel.

Then the high priest said: Are these things so?

Who said: Ye men, brethren and fathers, hear. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charan.

And said to him: Go forth out of thy country and from thy kindred: and come into the land which I shall shew thee.

Then he went out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Charan. And from thence, after his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein you now dwell.

And he gave him no inheritance in it: no, not the pace of a foot. But he promised to give it him in possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.

And God said to him: That his seed should sojourn in a strange country, and that they should bring them under bondage and treat them evil four hundred years.

And the nation which they shall serve will I judge (said the Lord): and after these things they shall go out and shall serve me in this place.

And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so he begot Isaac and circumcised him the eighth day: and Isaac begot Jacob: and Jacob, the twelve patriarchs.

And the patriarchs, through envy, sold Joseph into Egypt. And God was with him,

And delivered him out of all his tribulations: and he gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharao, the king of Egypt. And he appointed him governor over Egypt and over all his house.