Jesus Does a Miracle at the Sea

21 After this, Jesus appeared to his disciples again. It was by the Sea of Galilee. Here is what happened.

2Simon Peter and Thomas, who was called Didymus, were there together. Nathanael from Cana in Galilee and the sons of Zebedee were with them. So were two other disciples.

3“I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them. They said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat. That night they didn’t catch anything.

4Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore. But the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

5He called out to them, “Friends, don’t you have any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

6He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat. There you will find some fish.”

When they did, they could not pull the net into the boat. There were too many fish in it.

7Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Simon Peter, “It is the Lord!”

As soon as Peter heard that, he put his coat on. He had taken it off earlier. Then he jumped into the water.

8The other disciples followed in the boat. They were towing the net full of fish. The shore was only about 100 yards away. 9When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals. There were fish on it. There was also some bread.

10Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”

11Simon Peter climbed into the boat. He dragged the net to shore. It was full of large fish. There were 153 of them. But even with that many fish the net was not torn.

12Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.”

None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.

13Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them. He did the same thing with the fish. 14This was the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Jesus Takes Peter Back

15When Jesus and the disciples had finished eating, Jesus spoke to Simon Peter. He asked, “Simon, son of John, do you really love me more than these others do?”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered. “You know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

16Again Jesus asked, “Simon, son of John, do you really love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord. You know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

17Jesus spoke to him a third time. He asked, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

Peter felt bad because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He answered, “Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18What I’m about to tell you is true. When you were younger, you dressed yourself. You went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands. Someone else will dress you. Someone else will lead you where you do not want to go.”

19Jesus said this to point out how Peter would die. His death would bring glory to God.

Then Jesus said to him, “Follow me!”

20Peter turned around. He saw that the disciple Jesus loved was following them. He was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper. He had said, “Lord, who is going to hand you over to your enemies?” 21When Peter saw that disciple, he asked, “Lord, what will happen to him?”

22Jesus answered, “Suppose I want him to remain alive until I return. What does that matter to you? You must follow me.”

23Because of what Jesus said, a false report spread among the believers. The story was told that the disciple Jesus loved wouldn’t die. But Jesus did not say he would not die. He only said, “Suppose I want him to remain alive until I return. What does that matter to you?”

24This is the disciple who gives witness to these things. He also wrote them down. We know that his witness is true.

25Jesus also did many other things. What if every one of them were written down? I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

Acts

Jesus Is Taken Up Into Heaven

1 Theophilus, I wrote about Jesus in my earlier book. I wrote about all he did and taught 2until the day he was taken up to heaven. Before Jesus left, he gave orders to the apostles he had chosen. He did this through the Holy Spirit. 3After his suffering and death, he appeared to them. In many ways he proved that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of 40 days. During that time he spoke about God’s kingdom.

4One day Jesus was eating with them. He gave them a command. “Do not leave Jerusalem,” he said. “Wait for the gift my Father promised. You have heard me talk about it. 5John baptized with water. But in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

6When the apostles met together, they asked Jesus a question. “Lord,” they said, “are you going to give the kingdom back to Israel now?”

7He said to them, “You should not be concerned about times or dates. The Father has set them by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. Then you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem. You will be my witnesses in all Judea and Samaria. And you will be my witnesses from one end of the earth to the other.”

9After Jesus said this, he was taken up to heaven. They watched until a cloud hid him from their sight.

10While he was going up, they kept on looking at the sky. Suddenly two men dressed in white clothing stood beside them. 11“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking at the sky? Jesus has been taken away from you into heaven. But he will come back in the same way you saw him go.”

Matthias Is Chosen to Take the Place of Judas

12The apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. It is almost a mile from the city. 13When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Peter, John, James and Andrew were there. Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew were there too. So were James, son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas, son of James. 14They all came together regularly to pray. The women joined them too. So did Jesus’ mother Mary and his brothers.

15In those days Peter stood up among the believers. About 120 of them were there. 16Peter said, “Brothers, a long time ago the Holy Spirit spoke through David’s mouth about Judas. What he said in Scripture had to come true. Judas was the guide for the men who arrested Jesus. 17But Judas was one of us. He shared with us in our work for God.”

18Judas bought a field with the reward he got for the evil thing he had done. He fell down headfirst in the field. His body burst open. All his insides spilled out. 19Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this. So they called that field Akeldama. In their language, Akeldama means The Field of Blood.

20Peter said, “Here is what is written in the book of Psalms. It says,

“ ‘May his home be deserted.

May no one live in it.’ (Psalm 69:25)

The Psalms also say,

“ ‘Let someone else take his place as leader.’ (Psalm 109:8)

21So we need to choose someone to take his place. It will have to be a man who was with us the whole time the Lord Jesus lived among us. 22That time began when John was baptizing. It ended when Jesus was taken up from us. The one we choose must join us in giving witness that Jesus rose from the dead.”

23So they suggested two men. One was Joseph, who was called Barsabbas. He was also called Justus. The other man was Matthias. 24Then they prayed. “Lord,” they said, “you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen. 25Show us who should take the place of Judas as an apostle. He gave up being an apostle to go where he belongs.” 26Then they cast lots. Matthias was chosen. So he was added to the 11 apostles.

The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

2 The day of Pentecost came. The believers all gathered in one place. 2Suddenly a sound came from heaven. It was like a strong wind blowing. It filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw something that looked like tongues of fire. The flames separated and settled on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit. They began to speak in languages they had not known before. The Spirit gave them the ability to do this.

5Godly Jews from every country in the world were staying in Jerusalem. 6A crowd came together when they heard the sound. They were bewildered because they each heard the believers speaking in their own language. 7The crowd was really amazed. They asked, “Aren’t all these people from Galilee? 8Why, then, do we each hear them speaking in our own native language? 9We are Parthians, Medes and Elamites. We live in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia. We are from Pontus, Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia. Others of us are from Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene. Still others are visitors from Rome. 11Some of the visitors are Jews. Others have accepted the Jewish faith. Also, Cretans and Arabs are here. We hear all these people speaking about God’s wonders in our own languages!” 12They were amazed and bewildered. They asked one another, “What does this mean?”

13But some people in the crowd made fun of the believers. “They’ve had too much wine!” they said.

Peter Speaks to the Crowd

14Then Peter stood up with the Eleven. In a loud voice he spoke to the crowd. “My Jewish friends,” he said, “let me explain this to you. All of you who live in Jerusalem, listen carefully to what I say. 15You think these people are drunk. But they aren’t. It’s only nine o’clock in the morning! 16No, here is what the prophet Joel meant. 17He said,

“ ‘In the last days, God says,

I will pour out my Holy Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy.

Your young men will see visions.

Your old men will have dreams.

18 In those days I will pour out my Spirit

even on those who serve me, both men and women.

When I do, they will prophesy.

19 I will show wonders in the heavens above.

I will show miraculous signs on the earth below.

There will be blood and fire and clouds of smoke.

20 The sun will become dark.

The moon will turn red like blood.

This will happen before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.

21 Everyone who calls

on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ (Joel 2:28–32)

22“Men of Israel, listen to this! Jesus of Nazareth was a man who had God’s approval. God did miracles, wonders and signs among you through Jesus. You yourselves know this. 23Long ago God planned that Jesus would be handed over to you. With the help of evil people, you put Jesus to death. You nailed him to the cross. 24But God raised him from the dead. He set him free from the suffering of death. It wasn’t possible for death to keep its hold on Jesus. 25David spoke about him. He said,

“ ‘I know that the Lord is always with me.

He is at my right hand.

I will always be secure.

26 So my heart is glad. Joy is on my tongue.

My body also will be full of hope.

27 You will not leave me in the grave.

You will not let your Holy One rot away.

28 You always show me the path that leads to life.

You will fill me with joy when I am with you.’ (Psalm 16:8–11)

29“Brothers, you can be sure that King David died. He was buried. His tomb is still here today. 30But David was a prophet. He knew that God had made a promise to him. He had taken an oath that someone in David’s family line would be king after him. 31David saw what was ahead. So he spoke about the Christ rising from the dead. He said that the Christ would not be left in the grave. His body wouldn’t rot in the ground. 32God has raised this same Jesus back to life. We are all witnesses of this. 33Jesus has been given a place of honor at the right hand of God. He has received the Holy Spirit from the Father. This is what God had promised. It is Jesus who has poured out what you now see and hear. 34David did not go up to heaven. But he said,

“ ‘The Lord said to my Lord,

“Sit at my right hand.

35 I will put your enemies

under your control.” ’ (Psalm 110:1)

36“So be sure of this, all you people of Israel. You nailed Jesus to the cross. But God has made him both Lord and Christ.”

37When the people heard this, their hearts were filled with shame. They said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

38Peter replied, “All of you must turn away from your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then your sins will be forgiven. You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39The promise is for you and your children. It is also for all who are far away. It is for all whom the Lord our God will choose.”

40Peter said many other things to warn them. He begged them, “Save yourselves from these evil people.” 41Those who accepted his message were baptized. About 3,000 people joined the believers that day.

The Believers Share Life Together

42The believers studied what the apostles taught. They shared life together. They broke bread and ate together. And they prayed. 43Everyone felt that God was near. The apostles did many wonders and miraculous signs. 44All the believers were together. They shared everything they had. 45They sold what they owned. They gave each other everything they needed. 46Every day they met together in the temple courtyard. In their homes they broke bread and ate together. Their hearts were glad and honest and true. 47They praised God. They were respected by all the people. Every day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.

Peter Heals the Disabled Beggar

3 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple. It was three o’clock in the afternoon. It was the time for prayer. 2A man unable to walk was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful. He had been that way since he was born. Every day someone put him near the gate. There he would beg from people going into the temple courtyards.

3He saw that Peter and John were about to enter. So he asked them for money. 4Peter looked straight at him, and so did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5So the man watched them closely. He expected to get something from them.

6Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk.” 7Then Peter took him by the right hand and helped him up. At once the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8He jumped to his feet and began to walk. He went with Peter and John into the temple courtyards. He walked and jumped and praised God. 9All the people saw him walking and praising God. 10They recognized him as the same man who used to sit and beg at the temple gate called Beautiful. They were filled with wonder. They were amazed at what had happened to him.

Peter Speaks to the Jews

11The beggar was holding on to Peter and John. All the people were amazed. They came running to them at Solomon’s Porch. 12When Peter saw this, he said, “Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us? We haven’t made this man walk by our own power or godliness. 13The God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, has done this. He has brought glory to Jesus, who serves him. But you handed Jesus over to be killed. Pilate had decided to let him go. But you spoke against Jesus when he was in Pilate’s court. 14You spoke against the Holy and Blameless One. You asked for a murderer to be set free instead. 15You killed the one who gives life. But God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16This man whom you see and know was made strong because of faith in Jesus’ name. Faith in Jesus has healed him completely. You can see it with your own eyes.

17“My friends, I know you didn’t realize what you were doing. Neither did your leaders. 18But God had given a promise through all the prophets. And this is how he has made his promise come true. He said that his Christ would suffer. 19So turn away from your sins. Turn to God. Then your sins will be wiped away. The time will come when the Lord will make everything new. 20He will send the Christ. Jesus has been appointed as the Christ for you. 21He must remain in heaven until the time when God makes everything new. He promised this long ago through his holy prophets. 22Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me. He will be one of your own people. You must listen to everything he tells you. 23Those who do not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.’ (Deuteronomy 18:15, 18, 19)

24“Samuel and all the prophets after him spoke about this. They said these days would come. 25What the prophets said was meant for you. The covenant God made with your people long ago is yours also. He said to Abraham, ‘All nations on earth will be blessed through your children.’ (Genesis 22:18; 26:4) 26God raised up Jesus, who serves him. God sent him first to you. He did it to bless you. He wanted to turn each of you from your evil ways.”