The Early Church

For David says this about him: ‘I saw Adonai always before me, for he is at my right hand, so that I will not be shaken.

For this reason, my heart was glad; and my tongue rejoiced; and now my body too will live on in the certain hope

that you will not abandon me to Sh’ol or let your Holy One see decay.

You have made known to me the ways of life; you will fill me with joy by your presence.’

“Brothers, I know I can say to you frankly that the patriarch David died and was buried — his tomb is with us to this day.

Therefore, 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,

he was speaking in advance about the resurrection of the Messiah, that it was he who was not abandoned in Sh’ol and whose flesh did not see decay.

God raised up this Yeshua! And we are all witnesses of it!

“Moreover, he has been exalted to the right hand of God; has received from the Father what he promised, namely, the Ruach HaKodesh; and has poured out this gift, which you are both seeing and hearing.

For David did not ascend into heaven. But he says,

‘Adonai said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’

Therefore, let the whole house of Isra’el know beyond doubt that God has made him both Lord and Messiah — this Yeshua, whom you executed on a stake!”

On hearing this, they were stung in their hearts; and they said to Kefa and the other emissaries, “Brothers, what should we do?”

Kefa answered them, “Turn from sin, return to God, and each of you be immersed on the authority of Yeshua the Messiah into forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Ruach HaKodesh!

For the promise is for you, for your children, and for those far away — as many as Adonai our God may call!”

He pressed his case with many other arguments and kept pleading with them, “Save yourselves from this perverse generation!”

So those who accepted what he said were immersed, and there were added to the group that day about three thousand people.

They continued faithfully in the teaching of the emissaries, in fellowship, in breaking bread and in the prayers.

Everyone was filled with awe, and many miracles and signs took place through the emissaries.

All those trusting in Yeshua stayed together and had everything in common;

in fact, they sold their property and possessions and distributed the proceeds to all who were in need.

Continuing faithfully and with singleness of purpose to meet in the Temple courts daily, and breaking bread in their several homes, they shared their food in joy and simplicity of heart,

praising God and having the respect of all the people. And day after day the Lord kept adding to them those who were being saved.

One afternoon at three o’clock, the hour of minchah prayers, as Kefa and Yochanan were going up to the Temple,

a man crippled since birth was being carried in. Every day people used to put him at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple, so that he could beg from those going into the Temple court.