The Early Church

For Dauid sayeth concerning him, I beheld the Lord alwaies before me: for hee is at my right hand, that I should not be shaken.

Therefore did mine heart reioyce, and my tongue was glad, and moreouer also my flesh shall rest in hope,

Because thou wilt not leaue my soule in graue, neither wilt suffer thine Holy one to see corruption.

Thou hast shewed me the waies of life, and shalt make me full of ioy with thy countenance.

Men and brethren, I may boldly speake vnto you of the Patriarke Dauid, that hee is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre remaineth with vs vnto this day.

Therefore, seeing hee was a Prophet, and knewe that God had sworne with an othe to him, that of the fruite of his loynes hee woulde raise vp Christ concerning the flesh, to set him vpon his throne,

Hee knowing this before, spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soule shoulde not bee left in graue, neither his flesh shoulde see corruption.

This Iesus hath God raised vp, whereof we all are witnesses.

Since then that he by the right hande of God hath bene exalted, and hath receiued of his Father the promise of the holy Ghost, hee hath shed foorth this which yee nowe see and heare.

For Dauid is not ascended into heauen, but he sayth, The Lord sayd to my Lord, Sit at my right hande,

Vntill I make thine enemies thy footestoole.

Therefore, let all the house of Israel know for a suretie, that God hath made him both Lord, and Christ, this Iesus, I say, whome yee haue crucified.

Now when they heard it, they were pricked in their heartes, and said vnto Peter and the other Apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we doe?

Then Peter said vnto them, Amend your liues, and bee baptized euery one of you in the Name of Iesus Christ for the remission of sinnes: and ye shall receiue the gift of the holy Ghost.

For the promise is made vnto you, and to your children, and to all that are a farre off, euen as many as the Lord our God shall call.

And with many other words he besought and exhorted them, saying, Saue your selues from this froward generation.

Then they that gladly receiued his word, were baptized: and the same day there were added to the Church about three thousand soules.

And they continued in the Apostles doctrine, and fellowship, and breaking of bread, and prayers.

And feare came vpon euery soule: and many wonders and signes were done by ye Apostles.

And all that beleeued, were in one place, and had all things common.

And they sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all me, as euery one had need.

And they continued dayly with one accord in the Temple, and breaking bread at home, did eate their meate together with gladnesse and singlenesse of heart,

Praysing God, and had fauour with all the people: and the Lord added to the Church from day to day, such as should be saued.

Nowe Peter and Iohn went vp together into the Temple, at the ninth houre of prayer.

And a certaine man which was a creeple from his mothers wombe, was caried, whom they layde dayly at the gate of the Temple called Beautifull, to aske almes of them that entred into ye Temple.