of Israel, that by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Whom you crucified, Whom God hath raised from the dead, even by Him, this man standeth here before you whole. Neither is there salvation in any other. For there is no other Name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved."

Now seeing the constancy of Peter and of John, and understanding that they were illiterate and ignorant men, they wondered; but they knew that they had been with Jesus.

Then they commanded them to go aside out of the council; and they conferred among themselves, saying: "What shall we do with these men? For indeed a miracle known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem hath been done by them: it is manifest, and we cannot deny it. But that it may be no farther spread among the people, let us threaten them that they speak no more in this Name to any man."

Calling the apostles, they charged them not to speak at all, nor teach in the Name of Jesus.

Peter and John, answering, said to them: "If it be just, in the sight of God, to hear you rather than God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."

But they, threatening, sent them away, not knowing how they might punish them, because of the people; for all men glorified what had been done.

Being let go, the apostles came to their own company, and related all that the chief priests and the ancients had said to them.

They having heard it, with one accord lifted up their voices to God, and said: "Lord, Thou art He that didst make heaven and earth, the sea, and all things that are in them."

And the multitude of the believers had but one heart and one soul: neither did any one say that aught of the things which he possessed, was his own; but all things were common unto them.

accomplish (ǎ kom'plish), to com-
plete, fulfill.
Annas (Ăn'ăs).

compunction (kom půŋk'shun), re-
morse, regret.

Galilean (Găl'i lē'ăn), a native of
Galilee.

illiterate (I lĭt'er át), uneducated.
perverse (per vûrs'), wicked, stub-
born.

divers (di'věrz), different, various, prophesy (prof'ê sī), to foretell.

several.

exhort (eg zôrt'), to encourage.

Sadducees (Sǎd'ü sez), a Jewish sect.

II

apostles give testimony
Christ our Lord; and
For neither was there
For as many as were

With great power did the of the Resurrection of Jesus great grace was in them all. any one needy among them. owners of lands or houses, sold them, brought the price of the things they sold, and laid it down before

the feet of the apostles. Then distribution was made to every one according as he had need.

Joseph, who was surnamed Barnabas, having sold his land, laid the price at the feet of the apostles.

But a certain man, named Ananias, with Saphira 1 his wife, sold a piece of land. By fraud, they kept back part of the price which they received.

Peter said: "Ananias, why hath Satan tempted thy heart, that thou shouldst lie to the Holy Ghost, and by fraud keep part of the price of the land?"

1

Ananias hearing these words, fell down, and gave up the ghost.

Then there came great fear upon all that heard it. And the young men, rising up, carried him out and buried him.

Three hours later, when his wife Saphira, not knowing what had happened, came in, Peter said to her: "Tell me, woman, whether you sold the land for so much?"

She said: "Yea, for so much."

Peter said unto her: "Why have you agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold the feet of them who have buried thy husband are at the door, and they shall carry thee out."

Immediately she fell down before his feet, and gave up the ghost.

1 Sometimes spelled Sapphira.

Then there came a great fear upon the whole Church, and upon all that heard these things. And many signs and wonders were wrought among the people by the hands of the apostles.

And the multitude of men and women who believed in the Lord, was more increased, insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that when Peter came, his shadow at least might overshadow any of them, and they might be delivered from their infirmities.

There came also into Jerusalem a multitude out of the neighboring cities, bringing sick persons, and such as were troubled with unclean spirits. They were all healed.

Then the high priest, rising up, and all they that were with him, were filled with envy. And they laid hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.

But an angel of the Lord, opening the doors of the 'prison by night and leading them out, said: "Go, and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life."

Early in the morning, Peter and John entered into the temple, and taught.

The high priest and they that were with him called together the council, and sent to the prison for the apostles. But when the ministers came and found

them not there, they returned and told the high priest, saying: "The prison indeed we found shut with all diligence, and the keepers standing before the doors; but on opening it, we found no man within."

Now when the officer of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were in doubt concerning them.

But just then some one came and said to them: "Behold, the men you put in prison are in the temple teaching the people."

The officer with the ministers went and brought them without violence before the council.

Then the high priest said to them: "We commanded you, that you should not teach in this Name; and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with this doctrine; and you have a mind to bring the blood of this Man upon us."

But Peter, answering, said: "We ought to obey God rather than man. The God of our fathers hath raised up Jesus, Whom you put to death, hanging Him* upon a tree. And we are witnesses of these things and the Holy Ghost, Whom God hath given to all that obey Him."

When they had heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they thought to put them to death.

But one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, respected by all the people,