"Menof Israel,listento thesewords:Jesusthe Nazarene,a manattestedto you by Godwith miraclesand wondersand signswhichGodperformedthroughHim in your midst,justas you yourselvesknow--
this mancameto Jesus by nightand saidto Him, "Rabbi,we knowthat You have comefrom God[as] a teacher;for no onecandothesesignsthat You dounlessGodis with him."
let it be knownto allof you and to allthe peopleof Israel,that by the nameof JesusChristthe Nazarene,whomyou crucified,whomGodraisedfrom the dead--by this [name] this manstands herebeforeyou in good health.
"But ifI castout demonsby the fingerof God,thenthe kingdomof Godhas comeupon you.
"But ifI castout demonsby the Spiritof God,thenthe kingdomof Godhas comeupon you.
But when the crowdssaw[this], they were awestruck,and glorifiedGod,who had givensuchauthorityto men.
Godalso testifyingwith them, bothby signsand wondersand by variousmiraclesand by giftsof the HolySpiritaccordingto His own will.
The signsof a true apostlewere performedamongyou with allperseverance,by signsand wondersand miracles.
"For the kingknowsaboutthesematters, and I speakto him alsowith confidence,sinceI am persuadedthat noneof these thingsescape his notice;for thishas not beendonein a corner.
"So then,I thoughtto myselfthat I hadto domany thingshostileto the nameof Jesusof Nazareth.
"For we have foundthismana real pestand a fellow who stirsup dissensionamong allthe Jewsthroughoutthe world,and a ringleaderof the sectof the Nazarenes.
"And I answered,'Whoare You, Lord?'And He saidto me, 'I amJesusthe Nazarene,whomyou are persecuting.'
cryingout, "Menof Israel,come to our aid!Thisis the manwho preachesto all meneverywhereagainstour peopleand the Lawand thisplace;and besideshe has evenbroughtGreeksinto the templeand has defiledthisholyplace."
When they had arrivedand gatheredthe churchtogether,they [began] to reportall thingsthat Godhad donewith them and howHe had openeda doorof faithto the Gentiles.
Paulstoodup, and motioningwith his handsaid,"Menof Israel,and you who fearGod,listen:
for we have heardhim saythat thisNazarene,Jesus,will destroythisplaceand alterthe customswhichMoseshanded downto us."
And he saidto them, "Menof Israel,take carewhatyou proposeto dowith thesemen.
But when Petersaw[this], he repliedto the people,"Menof Israel,whyare you amazedat this,orwhydo you gazeat us, as ifby our ownpowerorpietywe had madehim walk?
Pilatealsowrotean inscriptionand putit on the cross.It was written,"JESUSTHE NAZARENE,THE KINGOF THE JEWS."
"IfI had not doneamongthem the workswhichno oneelsedid,they would not havesin;but nowthey have bothseenand hatedMe and My Fatheras well.
Sothe people,who were with Him whenHe calledLazarusout of the tomband raisedhim from the dead,continued to testify[about Him].
Thereforethe chief priestsand the Phariseesconveneda council,and were saying,"Whatare we doing?For thismanis performingmanysigns.
"IfI do not dothe worksof My Father,do not believeMe;
"Ifthis manwere not from God,He coulddonothing."
But manyof the crowdbelievedin Him; and they were saying,"Whenthe Christcomes,He will not performmoresignsthan those whichthis manhas, will He?"
"Do not workfor the foodwhich perishes,but for the foodwhich enduresto eternallife,whichthe Sonof Manwill giveto you, for on Him the Father,God,has set His seal."
Thereforewhen the peoplesawthe signwhichHe had performed,they said,"Thisis trulythe Prophetwho is to comeinto the world."
"But the testimonywhich I haveis greaterthan [the testimony of] John;for the workswhichthe Fatherhas givenMe to accomplish--the veryworksthat I do--testifyaboutMe, that the Fatherhas sentMe.
SoJesussaidto him, "Unlessyou [people] seesignsand wonders,you [simply] will not believe."
PhilipfoundNathanaeland saidto him, "We have foundHim of whomMosesin the Lawand [also] the Prophetswrote--Jesusof Nazareth,the sonof Joseph."
One[of them], namedCleopas,answeredand saidto Him, "Are You the only onevisitingJerusalemand unawareof the things which have happenedherein thesedays?"
and cameand livedin a citycalledNazareth.[This was] to fulfillwhatwas spokenthroughthe prophets:"He shall be calleda Nazarene."
"Do not fear,you wormJacob,you menof Israel;I will helpyou," declaresthe LORD,"and your Redeemeris the HolyOneof Israel.
AND I WILL GRANTWONDERSIN THE SKYABOVEAND SIGNSON THE EARTHBELOW,BLOOD,AND FIRE,AND VAPOROF SMOKE.
Everyonekept feelinga sense of awe;and manywondersand signswere taking placethroughthe apostles.
But Petersaid,"I do not possesssilverand gold,but whatI do haveI giveto you: In the nameof JesusChristthe Nazarene--walk!"
They toldhim that Jesusof Nazarethwas passingby.
