the Beautiful Gate: and every one was filled with wonder at the change
which had come over him.

After worshipping and praising God in the Temple, the man, still holding
fast to Peter and John, went out with them through the Beautiful Gate,
into Solomon's Porch. And in a very few minutes a great crowd of people
were drawn together to the place to see the man who had been made well,
and to see also the two men who had healed him.

Then Peter stood up before the throng of people, and spoke to them:

"Ye men of Israel," he said, "why do you look wondering on this man? or
why do you fix your eyes upon us, as though by our own power or goodness
we had made this man to walk? The God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of
Jacob, has in this way shown the power and the glory of his Son Jesus,
whom you gave up to his enemies, and whom you refused before Pontius
Pilate, when Pilate was determined to set him free. But you refused the
Holy One and the Righteous One, and chose a murderer, Barabbas, to be
set free in his place; and you killed the Prince of Life, whom God
raised from the dead. We who have seen him risen, declare that this is
true. And the power of Jesus, through faith in his name, has made this
man strong. Yes, it is faith in Christ that has given him this perfect
soundness before you all. Now, my brothers, I am sure that you did not
know that it was the Son of God and your own Saviour whom you sent to
the cross. Therefore turn to God in sorrow for this great sin, and God
will forgive you, and in his own time he will send again Jesus Christ.
God, who has raised up his Son, is ready to bless you, and turn away
every one of you from his sins."

While Peter was speaking, the priests, and the captain of the Temple,
and the rulers, came upon them; for they were angry as they heard Peter
speak these words. They laid hold of Peter and John, and put them into
the guardroom for the night. But many of those who had heard Peter
speaking believed on Jesus, and sought the Lord; and the number of the
followers of Christ rose from three thousand to five thousand.

On the next day the rulers came together; and Annas and Caiphas, the
high priests, were there, and with them many of their friends. They
brought Peter and John, and set them before the company. The lame man
who had been healed was still by the side of the two apostles. The
rulers asked them:

"By what power, or through whom have you done this?"

Then Peter spoke boldly: