Acts
2:41-47 - '41 So those
who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day
about three thousand souls. 42 And
they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship,
to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43
And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and
signs were being done through the apostles. 44
And all who believed were together and had all things
in common. 45 And they were
selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds
to all, as any had need. 46 And
day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their
homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47
praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added
to their number day by day those who were being saved.'
John
17:20-26 - '20 I
do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in
me through their word, 21
that they may all be
one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also
may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
22 The
glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be
one even as we are one, 23
I in them and you in
me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know
that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24
Father, I desire that they also,
whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory
that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation
of the world. 25 O
righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know
you, and these know that you have sent me. 26
I made known to them your name, and I will continue
to make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in
them, and I in them.'
Isaiah
40:10-11 - '10 Behold,
the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold,
his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 11
He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in
his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that
are with young.'
Acts
9:31 - '31 So the church
throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being
built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of
the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.'
Acts
12:24 - '24 But the word
of God increased and multiplied.'
Acts
16:5 - '5 So the churches
were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.'
Acts
19:20 - '20 So the word
of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.'
Galatians
3:1-3 - '1 O foolish Galatians!
Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was
publicly portrayed as crucified. 2
Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the
law or by hearing with faith? 3
Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being
perfected by the flesh?'
Acts
2:14-41 - '14 But Peter,
standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them,
"Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known
to you, and give ear to my words. 15
For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the
third hour of the day. 16 But
this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:
17 'And in the last days
it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams;
18 even on my male servants
and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders
in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
20 the sun shall be turned
to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
21 And it shall come to pass
that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.'
22 "Men of Israel, hear
these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with
mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your
midst, as you yourselves know-- 23
this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge
of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24
God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not
possible for him to be held by it. 25
For David says concerning him,
'I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
26 therefore my heart was
glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
my flesh also will dwell in hope.
27 For you will not abandon
my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One see corruption.
28 You have made known to
me the paths of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.'
29 Brothers, I may say to
you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and
was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30
Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an
oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne,
31 he foresaw and spoke about
the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades,
nor did his flesh see corruption. 32
This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33
Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received
from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out
this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34
For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,
'The Lord said to my Lord,
Sit at my right hand,
35 until I make your enemies
your footstool.'
36 Let all the house of Israel
therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ,
this Jesus whom you crucified. 37
Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter
and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"
38 And Peter said to them,
"Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus
Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the
gift of the Holy Spirit. 39
For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are
far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself." 40
And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort
them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation."
41 So those who received his
word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand
souls.