Weymouth New Testament in Modern Speech: Acts | Page 3

solemnly sworn to him to seat a descendant of his upon his throne, 002:031 with prophetic foresight he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, to the effect that He was not left forsaken in the Unseen World, nor did His body undergo decay. 002:032 This Jesus, God has raised to life--a fact to which all of us testify. 002:033 "Being therefore lifted high by the mighty hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out this which you see and hear. 002:034 For David did not ascend into Heaven, but he says himself, "`The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand 002:035 until I make thy foes a footstool under thy feet.' 002:036 "Therefore let the whole House of Israel know beyond all doubt that God has made Him both LORD and CHRIST-- this Jesus whom you crucified." 002:037 Stung to the heart by these words, they said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles, "Brethren, what are we to do?" 002:038 "Repent," replied Peter, "and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, with a view to the remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 002:039 For to you belongs the promise, and to your children, and to all who are far off, whoever the Lord our God may call." 002:040 And with many more appeals he solemnly warned and entreated them, saying, "Escape from this crooked generation." 002:041 Those, therefore, who joyfully welcomed his Message were baptized; and on that one day about three thousand persons were added to them; 002:042 and they were constant in listening to the teaching of the Apostles and in their attendance at the Communion, that is, the Breaking of the Bread, and at prayer. 002:043 Fear came upon every one, and many marvels and signs were done by the Apostles. 002:044 And all the believers kept together, and had everything in common. 002:045 They sold their lands and other property, and distributed the proceeds among all, according to every one's necessities. 002:046 And, day by day, attending constantly in the Temple with one accord, and breaking bread in private houses, they took their meals with great happiness and single-heartedness, 002:047 praising God and being regarded with favour by all the people. Also, day by day, the Lord added to their number those whom He was saving. 003:001 One day Peter and John were going up to the Temple for the hour of prayer--the ninth hour--and, just then, 003:002 some men were carrying there one who had been lame from birth, whom they were wont to place every day close to the Beautiful Gate (as it was called) of the Temple, for him to beg from the people as they went in. 003:003 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the Temple, he asked them for alms. 003:004 Peter fixing his eyes on him, as John did also, said, "Look at us." 003:005 So he looked and waited, expecting to receive something from them. 003:006 "I have no silver or gold," Peter said, "but what I have, I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene--walk!" 003:007 Then taking his hand Peter lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were strengthened. 003:008 Leaping up, he stood upright and began to walk, and went into the Temple with them, walking, leaping, and praising God. 003:009 All the people saw him walking and praising God; 003:010 and recognizing him as the man who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple asking for alms, they were filled with awe and amazement at what had happened to him. 003:011 While he still clung to Peter and John, the people, awe-struck, ran up crowding round them in what was known as Solomon's Portico. 003:012 Peter, seeing this, spoke to the people. "Israelites," he said, "why do you wonder at this man? Or why gaze at us, as though by any power or piety of our own we had enabled him to walk? 003:013 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our forefathers, has conferred this honour on His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to let Him go. 003:014 Yes, you disowned the holy and righteous One, and asked as a favour the release of a murderer. 003:015 The Prince of Life you put to death; but God has raised Him from the dead, and we are witnesses as to that. 003:016 It is His name--faith in that name being the condition-- which has strengthened this man whom you behold and know; and the faith which He has given has made this