Esther Agrees to Help the Jews

1 When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and he cried out with a loud and bitter cry. 2 He went up to the entrance of the king’s gate, for no one was allowed to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth. 3 And in every province, wherever the king’s command and his decree reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and many of them lay in sackcloth and ashes.

4 When Esther’s young women and her eunuchs came and told her, the queen was deeply distressed. She sent garments to clothe Mordecai, so that he might take off his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. 5 Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs, who had been appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to learn what this was and why it was. 6 Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate, 7 and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and ^gthe exact sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews. 8 Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written ^hdecree issued in Susa for their destruction,¹ that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her and command her to go to the king to beg his favor and plead with him² on behalf of her people. 9 And Hathach went and told Esther what Mordecai had said. 10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach and commanded him to go to Mordecai and say, 11 “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the ⁱinner court without being called, there is but one law—to be put to death, except the one to whom the king ^jholds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.”

12 And they told Mordecai what Esther had said. 13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” 15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, 16 “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”³ 17 Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

1 ^aIn the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was ^btaken up, after he had given ^ccommands through the Holy Spirit to the ^dapostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many ^eproofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

4 And while staying¹ with them he ordered them ^fnot to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the ^gpromise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized ^hwith water, but ⁱyou will be baptized with² the ^jHoly Spirit not many days from now.”

The Ascension

6 ^kSo when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this ^ltime restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive ^mpower when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my ⁿwitnesses in ^oJerusalem and in all ^pJudea and ^qSamaria, and to the ^rend of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was ^slifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in ^twhite robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was ^utaken up from you into heaven, will come ^vin the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, ^wPeter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were ^xdevoting themselves to prayer, together with the ^ywomen and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.³

15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning ^zJudas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 ^a(Now this man acquired a field with ^bthe reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong⁴ he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,

and

21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from ^ethe baptism of John until the day when he was ^ftaken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they ^gprayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

1 When the day of ^hPentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a ⁱmighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of ^jfire appeared to them and rested⁵ on each one of them. 4 And they were all ^kfilled with the Holy Spirit and began to ^lspeak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because ^meach one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others ⁿmocking said, “They are ^ofilled with new wine.”

Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.⁶ 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus,⁷ delivered up according to the definite plan and ^sforeknowledge of God, ^tyou crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 ^uGod ^vraised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was ^wnot possible for him to be held by it. 25 For David says concerning him,

29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both ^ydied and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had ^zsworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are ^awitnesses. 33 Being therefore ^bexalted ^cat the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the ^dpromise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both ^gLord and ^hChrist, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ⁱ“Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, ^j“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the ^kforgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the ^lgift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and ^mfor your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God ⁿcalls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this ^ocrooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were ^padded that day about three thousand souls.

The Fellowship of the Believers

42 And they ^qdevoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the ^rbreaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe⁸ came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had ^sall things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

The Lame Beggar Healed

1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.⁹ 2 And a man lame ^tfrom birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 4 And Peter directed his ^ugaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the ^vname of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 And ^wleaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and ^xrecognized him as ^ythe one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter Speaks in Solomon’s Portico

11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the ^zportico called Solomon’s. 12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? 13 The ^aGod of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, ^bglorified his ^cservant¹⁰ Jesus, whom ^dyou delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when ^ehe had decided to release him. 14 But you denied the Holy and ^fRighteous One, and ^gasked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the ^hAuthor of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are ⁱwitnesses. 16 And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus¹¹ has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ^jignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that ^khis ^lChrist would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 ^mRepent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be ⁿblotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may ^osend the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom ^pheaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets ^qlong ago. 22 Moses said, ^r‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. 23 And it shall be that ^severy soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ 24 And all the prophets who have spoken, from ^tSamuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. 25 You are the ^usons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ^v‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ 26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you ^wfirst, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”