Day after day they met as a group in the Temple, and they had their meals together in their homes, eating with glad and humble hearts,

When he arrived and saw how God had blessed the people, he was glad and urged them all to be faithful and true to the Lord with all their hearts.

They strengthened the believers and encouraged them to remain true to the faith. "We must pass through many troubles to enter the Kingdom of God," they taught.

Other people are like the seeds that fall on rocky ground. As soon as they hear the message, they receive it gladly.

But it does not sink deep into them, and they don't last long. So when trouble or persecution comes because of the message, they give up at once.

So Jesus said to those who believed in him, "If you obey my teaching, you are really my disciples;

you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

I praise you because you always remember me and follow the teachings that I have handed on to you.

I am surprised at you! In no time at all you are deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ, and are accepting another gospel.

You, too, are built upon the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets, the cornerstone being Christ Jesus himself.

You must, of course, continue faithful on a firm and sure foundation, and must not allow yourselves to be shaken from the hope you gained when you heard the gospel. It is of this gospel that I, Paul, became a servant---this gospel which has been preached to everybody in the world.

But as for you, continue in the truths that you were taught and firmly believe. You know who your teachers were,

We are not people who turn back and are lost. Instead, we have faith and are saved.

My dear friends, this is now the second letter I have written you. In both letters I have tried to arouse pure thoughts in your minds by reminding you of these things.

I want you to remember the words that were spoken long ago by the holy prophets, and the command from the Lord and Savior which was given you by your apostles.

But you, my friends, already know this. Be on your guard, then, so that you will not be led away by the errors of lawless people and fall from your safe position.

But continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory, now and forever! Amen.

These people really did not belong to our fellowship, and that is why they left us; if they had belonged to our fellowship, they would have stayed with us. But they left so that it might be clear that none of them really belonged to us.

As soon as Peter and John were set free, they returned to their group and told them what the chief priests and the elders had said.

Many miracles and wonders were being performed among the people by the apostles. All the believers met together in Solomon's Porch.

But more and more people were added to the group---a crowd of men and women who believed in the Lord.

What we have seen and heard we announce to you also, so that you will join with us in the fellowship that we have with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

But if we live in the light---just as he is in the light---then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from every sin.

On Saturday evening we gathered together for the fellowship meal. Paul spoke to the people and kept on speaking until midnight, since he was going to leave the next day.

Then he went back upstairs, broke bread, and ate. After talking with them for a long time, even until sunrise, Paul left.

The cup we use in the Lord's Supper and for which we give thanks to God: when we drink from it, we are sharing in the blood of Christ. And the bread we break: when we eat it, we are sharing in the body of Christ.

Because there is the one loaf of bread, all of us, though many, are one body, for we all share the same loaf.

You cannot drink from the Lord's cup and also from the cup of demons; you cannot eat at the Lord's table and also at the table of demons.

When you meet together as a group, it is not the Lord's Supper that you eat.

Don't you have your own homes in which to eat and drink? Or would you rather despise the church of God and put to shame the people who are in need? What do you expect me to say to you about this? Shall I praise you? Of course I don't!

gave thanks to God, broke it, and said, "This is my body, which is for you. Do this in memory of me."

This means that every time you eat this bread and drink from this cup you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

They gathered frequently to pray as a group, together with the women and with Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brothers.

When they finished praying, the place where they were meeting was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to proclaim God's message with boldness.

We ourselves, then, will give our full time to prayer and the work of preaching."

Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times.

Do all this in prayer, asking for God's help. Pray on every occasion, as the Spirit leads. For this reason keep alert and never give up; pray always for all God's people.

Be persistent in prayer, and keep alert as you pray, giving thanks to God.

Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more, since you see that the Day of the Lord is coming nearer.

But you, my friends, keep on building yourselves up on your most sacred faith. Pray in the power of the Holy Spirit,