This Book, which, from the first ages, hath been called, THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES, is not to be considered as a history of what was done by all the Apostles, who were dispersed into different nations; but only a short view of the first establishment of the Christian Church. A part of the preaching and action of St. Peter are related in the first twelve chapters; and a particular account of St. Paul's apostolical labours in the subsequent chapters. It was written by St. Luke the Evangelist, and the original in Greek. Its history commences from the Ascension of Christ our Lord and ends in the year sixty-three, being a brief account of the Church for the space of about thirty years. Acts Chapter 1 The ascension of Christ. Matthias is chosen in place of Judas. 1:1. The former treatise I made, O Theophilus, of all things which Jesus began to do and to teach, 1:2. Until the day on which, giving commandments by the Holy Ghost to the apostles whom he had chosen, he was taken up. 1:3. To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion, by many proofs, for forty days appearing to them, and speaking of the kingdom of God. 1:4. And eating together with them, he commanded them, that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but should wait for the promise of the Father, which you have heard (saith he) by my mouth. 1:5. For John indeed baptized with water: but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost, not many days hence. 1:6. They therefore who were come together, asked him, saying: Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom of Israel? 1:7. But he said to them: It is not for you to know the time or moments, which the Father hath put in his own power: 1:8. But you shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the uttermost part of the earth. 1:9. And when he had said these things, while they looked on, he was raised up: and a cloud received him out of their sight. 1:10. And while they were beholding him going up to heaven, behold two men stood by them in white garments. 1:11. Who also said: Ye men of Galilee, why stand you looking up to heaven? This Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come as you have seen him going into heaven. 1:12. Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount that is called Olivet, which is nigh Jerusalem, within a sabbath day's journey. 1:13. And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James of Alpheus and Simon Zelotes and Jude the brother of James. 1:14. All these were persevering with one mind in prayer with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. 1:15. In those days Peter rising up in the midst of the brethren, said (now the number of persons together was about an hundred and twenty):