Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're
taking this journey together to read the Bible
in a year. Today we begin the book of Acts with
chapters 1 and 2. Chapter 1 The former account
I made of Theophilus, of all that Jesus began
both to do and teach, until the day in which
he was taken up after he, through the Holy Spirit,
had given commandments to the apostles whom he
had chosen. to whom he also presented himself
alive after his suffering by many infallible
proofs, being seen by them during forty days
and speaking of the things pertaining to the
kingdom of God. And being assembled together
with them, he commanded them not to depart from
Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the
Father, which he said, You have heard from me,
for John truly baptized with water, but you shall
be baptized with the Holy Spirit, not many days
from now. Therefore, when they had come together,
they asked him, saying, Lord, will you at this
time restore the kingdom to Israel? And he said
to them, It is not for you to know times or seasons,
which the Father has put in his own authority.
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit
has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses
to me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria
and to the end of the earth. Now, when he had
spoken these things, while they watched, he was
taken up, and a cloud received him. out of their
sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward
heaven, as he went up, behold, two men stood
by them in white apparel, who also said, Men
of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven?
This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into
heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw
him go into heaven. Then they returned to Jerusalem
from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem,
a Sabbath day's journey. And when they had entered,
they went up into the upper room where they were
staying. Peter, James, John and Andrew, Philip
and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the
son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas
the son of James. These all continued with one
accord in prayer and supplication with the women
and Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brothers.
And in those days Peter stood up in the midst
of the disciples. Altogether the number of names
was about a hundred and twenty, and said, Men
and brethren, this scripture had to be fulfilled,
which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth
of David concerning Judas, who became a guide
to those who arrested Jesus, for he was numbered
with us and obtained a part in this ministry.
Now this man purchased a field with the wages
of iniquity, and falling headlong he burst open
in the middle, and all his entrails gushed out.
and it became known to all those dwelling in
Jerusalem. So that field is called in their own
language, that is, field of blood. For it is
written in the book of Psalms, Let his dwelling
place be desolate, and let no one live in it,
and let another take his office. Therefore, of
these men who have accompanied us all the time
that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
beginning from the baptism of John to that day
when he was taken up from us. One of those must
become a witness with us of his resurrection.
And they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas,
who was surnamed Eustace, and Matthias. And they
prayed and said, You, O Lord, who know the hearts
of all, show which of these two you have chosen
to take part in this ministry and apostleship
from which Judas by transgression fell, that
he might go to his own place. and they cast their
lots, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was
numbered with the eleven apostles. Chapter 2
When the day of Pentecost had fully come, they
were all with one accord in one place, and suddenly
there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing
mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where
they were sitting. Then there appeared to them
divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon
each of them, And they were all filled with the
Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues,
as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there
were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men,
from every nation under heaven. And when this
sound occurred, the multitude came together and
were confused, because everyone heard them speak
in his own language. Then they were all amazed
and marveled, saying to one another, Look, are
not all these who speak Galileans? And how is
it that we hear each in his own language in which
we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites,
those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia,
Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt
and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors
from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans
and Arabs. We hear them speaking in our own tongues
the wonderful works of God. So they were all
amazed and perplexed, saying to one another,
Whatever could this mean? Others mocking said,
They are full of new wine. But Peter, standing
up with the eleven, raised his voice and said
to them, Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem,
let this be known to you and heed my words. For
these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it
is only the third hour of the day. But this is
what was spoken by the prophet Joel. And it shall
come to pass in the last days, says God, that
I will pour out of my spirit on all flesh. Your
sons and your daughters shall prophesy. Your
young men shall see visions. Your old men shall
dream dreams. And on my menservants and on my
maidservants I will pour out my spirit in those
days, and they shall prophesy. I will show wonders
in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath,
blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall
be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood,
before the coming of the great and awesome day
of the Lord. And it shall come to pass that whoever
calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Men of Israel, hear these words. Jesus of Nazareth,
a man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders,
and signs, which God did through him in your
midst, as you yourselves also know. Him being
delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge
of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have
crucified and put to death, whom God raised up,
having loosed the pains of death, because it
was not possible that he should be held by it.
For David says concerning him, I foresaw the
Lord always before my face, for he is at my right
hand that I may not be shaken. Therefore my heart
rejoiced and my tongue was glad. Moreover, my
flesh also will rest in hope, for you will not
leave my soul in Hades, nor will you allow your
Holy One to see corruption. You have made known
to me the ways of life. You will make me full
of joy in your presence. Men and brethren, let
me speak freely to you of the patriarch David,
that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb
is with us to this day. Therefore, being a prophet
and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to
him, that of the fruit of his body, according
to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to
sit on his throne. He, foreseeing this, spoke
concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that
his soul was not left in Hades, nor did his flesh
see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, of
which we are all witnesses. Therefore, being
exalted to the right hand of God, and having
received from the Father the promise of the Holy
Spirit, he poured out this which you now see
and hear. For David did not ascend into the heavens,
but he says himself, The Lord said to my Lord,
Sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies
your footstool. Therefore, let all the house
of Israel know assuredly that God has made this
Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord And with
many other words he testified and exhorted them.
saying, Be saved from this perverse generation.
Then those who gladly received his word were
baptized, and that day about three thousand souls
were added to them. And they continued steadfastly
in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in
the breaking of bread and in prayers. Then fear
came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs
were done through the apostles. Now all who believed
were together and had all things in common, and
sold their possessions and goods, and divided
them among all. I hope you enjoyed today's reading
as much as I did, and I look forward to seeing
you again tomorrow to continue on our journey.
God bless you and have a great day.