The Early Church

for David saith in regard to him: I foresaw the Lord always before me--because He is on my right hand--that I may not be moved;

because of this was my heart cheered, and my tongue was glad, and yet--my flesh also shall rest on hope,

because Thou wilt not leave my soul to hades, nor wilt Thou give Thy Kind One to see corruption;

Thou didst make known to me ways of life, Thou shalt fill me with joy with Thy countenance.

`Men, brethren! it is permitted to speak with freedom unto you concerning the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is among us unto this day;

a prophet, therefore, being, and knowing that with an oath God did swear to him, out of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, to raise up the Christ, to sit upon his throne,

having foreseen, he did speak concerning the rising again of the Christ, that his soul was not left to hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.

`This Jesus did God raise up, of which we are all witnesses;

at the right hand then of God having been exalted--also the promise of the Holy Spirit having received from the Father--he was shedding forth this, which now ye see and hear;

for David did not go up to the heavens, and he saith himself: The Lord saith to my lord, Sit thou at my right hand,

till I make thy foes thy footstool;

assuredly, therefore, let all the house of Israel know, that both Lord and Christ did God make him--this Jesus whom ye did crucify.'

And having heard, they were pricked to the heart; they say also to Peter, and to the rest of the apostles, `What shall we do, men, brethren?'

and Peter said unto them, `Reform, and be baptized each of you on the name of Jesus Christ, to remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,

for to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all those afar off, as many as the Lord our God shall call.'

Also with many more other words he was testifying and exhorting, saying, `Be saved from this perverse generation;'

then those, indeed, who did gladly receive his word were baptized, and there were added on that day, as it were, three thousand souls,

and they were continuing stedfastly in the teaching of the apostles, and the fellowship, and the breaking of the bread, and the prayers.

And fear came on every soul, many wonders also and signs were being done through the apostles,

and all those believing were at the same place, and had all things common,

and the possessions and the goods they were selling, and were parting them to all, according as any one had need.

Daily also continuing with one accord in the temple, breaking also at every house bread, they were partaking of food in gladness and simplicity of heart,

praising God, and having favour with all the people, and the Lord was adding those being saved every day to the assembly.

And Peter and John were going up at the same time to the temple, at the hour of the prayer, the ninth hour ,

and a certain man, being lame from the womb of his mother, was being carried, whom they were laying every day at the gate of the temple, called Beautiful, to ask a kindness from those entering into the temple,