COLLECTED BY THE HOLY MAR LUKOS THE
EVANGELIST.*

I.

THE former writing, O Theophilus, I wrote concerning all those (things) which our Lord Jeshu Meshiha began to do and to teach, until that day in which he was taken up, after that he had instructed1 those apostles whom he had chosen by the Holy Spirit to whom also he showed himself alive, after he had suffered, with many signs, for forty days, appearing to them, and discoursing on the kingdom of Aloha. And when he had eaten bread with them, he directed them that from Urishlem they should not remove; but await the promise of the Father, which, [said he,] you have heard from me.

*The titles vary. That here given is Walton's.

1 Or, commanded.

For

Juhanon baptized with waters, but you shall be baptized with the Spirit of Holiness after days not many.

But they when assembled asked him, and said to him, Our Lord, at this time wilt thou restore 2 the kingdom to Israel? He saith to them, This is not yours to know the time or the times which the Father hath reposed in his own authority: but when the Spirit of Holiness hath come upon you, you shall receive power to be made unto me the witnesses, in Urishlem and in all Jehud, and also among the Shomroyee, and unto the confines of the earth.

3

And as these he said, while they beheld him, he was taken up, and the cloud received him, and he was covered from their eyes. And while they looked to the heavens as he went, two men were found standing with them in white vestments; and they said to them, Men, Galiloyee, why stand you looking to the heavens? 3 this Jeshu who is taken up from you into the heavens will so come as you have seen him ascend into the heavens.

And afterward they returned to Urishlem from the mount which is called the place of Olives, which is over against Urishlem, and distant from her as seven stadias. And after they had entered, they ascended to that upper room in which were Petros, and Juhanon, and Jakub, and Andros, and Philipos, and Thoma, and Mathai, and Bar Tolmai, and Jakub bar Halphai, and Shemun the Zealous, and Jihuda bar Jakub. These altogether persevered in prayer with one soul, with the women, and with Mariam the mother of Jeshu, and with his brethren.

II.

AND in those days arose Shemun Kipha in the midst of the disciples;—now there was there an assembly of men as

2 Or, return.

3 Into heaven.-WALTON.

an hundred and twenty ;—and said, Men, brethren, it was right for that scripture to be fulfilled which the Spirit of Holiness had before spoken, by the mouth of David, concerning Jihuda, who was the leader of them who took Jeshu. For he had numbered with us, and had part in this ministry. This is he who obtained the field with the wages of sin, and fell upon his face on the ground, and was severed in his middle, and all his bowels were shed forth. And this hath been known of all who dwell in Urishlem; and so is called that field in the language of the country Hakel-damo, the interpretation of which is, A field of blood. For it is written in the book of Psalms :

Let his habitation be desert,

And no inhabitant be therein,

And his ministry let another take.

There needeth therefore one from these men who have been with us in all this time in which our Lord Jeshu hath come in and gone out among us, which went forth from the baptism of Juhanon until the day that he was taken up from (being) with us, to be with us a witness of his resurrection.

And they set up two: Jauseph, who is called Barshaba, who is surnamed Justus, and Mathia. And praying, they said, Thou, Lord, (who) knowest the hearts of all, show the one whom thou choosest of these two, that he may receive the part in the ministry and the apostleship from which Jihuda separated, to go unto his place.

And they cast the lots, and it came up unto Mathia ; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

AND when the days of pentecost were fulfilled, while they were assembled all together, there was suddenly

from heaven the voice as of a mighty wind, and all that house in which they were sitting was filled with it; and tongues that were divided like fire appeared to them, and sat upon each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in several tongues as the Spirit gave them to speak.

4

But there were men dwelling in Urishlem who feared Aloha; Jihudoyee, from all the peoples who are under heaven. And when that voice was made, the whole people assembled and were perturbed, because every man of them heard as they spoke in their (several) tongues. (And) they were all astonished, and wondered, saying one to another, These all who speak, behold, are they not Galiloyee? How hear we (then) each in his own tongue in which we were born? Parthoyee and Medoyee and Alanoyee, and they who dwell in the Place of Rivers,1 Jihudoyee and Kapadukoyee, and of the region of Pontos and of Asia; and from the land of Phrygia and of Pamphylia and of Metsreen, and the regions of Lybi neighbouring upon Kyrine, and those who come from Rumi, Jihudoyee, and Proselytes, [Giuree,] and from Krete and Arabia, behold, we hear them speaking in our tongues the wonders of Aloha. But all of them were amazed and admired, saying one to another, Of whom is this thing? But others mocked them, saying, These have drunk new wine, and are inebriate.

And afterwards arose Shemun Kipha with the eleven apostles, and lifted up his voice and said to them:

Men, Jihudoyee, and all who dwell at Urishlem, be this known to you, and hearken to my words. For not as you suppose are these drunken; for, behold, until now are [there but] three hours. But this is that spoken of by Joel the prophet:

4 Beth Nahareen.