It was Sunday - the third day after Jesus had died on the cross. Many of Jesus' disciples were together in a house in Jerusalem. The door was locked because they were afraid of Jesus' enemies - the Jewish leaders.

The disciples were very sad. Some were still crying. A few of the women, however, were not crying. They were full of joy because they knew that Jesus was alive.

Early that morning, these women had gone to Jesus' tomb. They saw that it was empty. They stood there asking each other, "What has happened?" Suddenly two men in bright, shining clothes appeared. They stood by the women and said to them, "Jesus is not in the tomb. God has made him alive again. Remember, Jesus had said to you,
'I will die on a cross, and on the third day come alive again!' "

Jesus' words had come true. The women were full of joy. They had run back quickly and told the disciples about it. But the disciples did not believe them. They said, "What nonsense! How can Jesus be alive!" Peter, however, was still thinking, "What has happened?" He had also been to the tomb, and he had seen that it was empty.

Later that evening, the disciples were still together in the house. Suddenly they heard someone knocking on the door. They were afraid and they stopped talking. However they soon recognised the voices outside, and opened the door. Two of Jesus' disciples came in. "Jesus is alive!" they said. "He was with us."

Then one of them told the others what had happened. He said, "This afternoon the two of us were walking to a village. A man came along and walked with us. He asked us, 'What are you talking about?' 'We're talking about Jesus,' I answered. 'He was our Leader. Haven't you heard about him? He was a man sent by God. He did many wonderful things, and he taught us about God. The Jewish leaders did not like his teaching. They had him killed on a cross. To-day is the third day since he died. But this morning, some of our women came to us saying, 'Jesus is not in the tomb. He is alive.' We don't know what to think.

The man said to us, 'Why don't you believe the word of God? It says that the Messiah will suffer and die on a cross, and come alive again on the third day'. He also taught us many other things about the Messiah - from the word of God. These are the same things Jesus had taught us before.

This man went with us to the village. He stayed with us. While we were having our evening meal, we suddenly recognised him. He was Jesus! We were amazed. But before we could say a word, he disappeared! We got up and ran here immediately."

Suddenly Jesus appeared and stood among his disciples. They were afraid. They were not able to talk. Jesus said to them, "Why are you afraid? It is I. If you don't believe that I'm alive, touch me. Give me some food to eat." The disciples were amazed. At last they believed he was alive. They were full of joy.

"Remember," said Jesus, "I told you these things before - that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and die on a cross - and come alive again on the third day. You have seen all these things happen to me."

Jesus was on a mountain-side not far from Jerusalem. His Apostles were with him. They were the men he had chosen to be leaders in the work for God.

It was forty days since Jesus had come alive again. It was almost time for him to return to his Father in heaven.

Jesus said to his Apostles, "Stay in Jerusalem. God will send his Holy Spirit to be in you. The Holy Spirit will give you power. You will have power to tell the people in Jerusalem about me. You will be able to go to every nation on earth - to tell people about me. Go and make them my disciples. Baptise them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. And I will be with you always."

After saying this, Jesus lifted up his hands and blessed them. Then he went up into the sky. His Apostles stood watching. They were amazed. Soon they were unable to see him. However, they still stood there, looking up at the sky. Suddenly two men in shining white clothes were there, standing in front of them. One of the men said to the Apostles, "Men, why are you standing there looking up at the sky? Jesus has returned to his Father in heaven. One day he'll come back again. He'll suddenly appear in the sky."

The Apostles worshipped Jesus. Then they went down the mountain-side, and walked slowly back to Jerusalem. Jesus had just gone away from them, but this time, they were not sad. He had told them this would happen, and it had happened. He had gone to be with God, his Father. He had left them in the world, to do work for God.

The Apostles obeyed Jesus - they stayed in Jerusalem. They often met together to pray. Jesus' other disciples and his mother and brothers were often with them. They all prayed together.

One morning, what Jesus had promised took place. The Holy Spirit came! They heard a very loud sound - it was like the sound of a very strong wind blowing. It came from heaven and blew right into the house.

The Apostles and all the people with them were filled by the Holy Spirit. Something wonderful had happened. Their hearts were full of joy. They lifted their voices and praised God loudly in languages which they had never learnt!

The people outside heard them. Some of them said to one another, "What has happened?" Others just laughed at them and said, "They're drunk."

Peter and the other Apostles were full of the Holy Spirit. They were full of power. They were no longer afraid of the Jewish leaders. They immediately went out and spoke to the people.

The Apostles were no longer afraid of the Jewish leaders. God had filled them with the Holy Spirit. They were full of power and were ready to do God's work. They immediately went outside.

Peter stood in front of the people, and spoke to them in a loud voice. He said, "Listen to me. You think these people are drunk. It isn't true. Do you know what has happened? The Holy Spirit came and filled them. And they're praising God loudly in languages which they have never learnt. God's word said this would happen, and it has happened.

Jesus was sent to you by God. You know that's the truth. You've heard him telling people about God. You've seen him performing many miracles. Yet you let him be killed on the cross. But God has made him alive again. That was God's plan. Now he is with God. And God has made him Lord and Messiah."

When the people heard this, they felt ashamed and sad and worried. They said to Peter and the other Apostles, "Tell us, what must we do?" Peter answered, "You must be sorry for your sins. God will forgive you. You must be baptised in the name of Jesus. God will give you His Holy Spirit." About three thousand people believed. These believers were baptised.

Peter used to be a fisherman, but when he decided to follow Jesus, he left his boat behind. And Jesus had said to him, "I will make you a fisher of men - you will be bringing men to God." This was Peter's work till the end of his life - bringing men to God.

Peter and the other Apostles taught the believers more about God, and every day, more and more people believed and were baptised.

The believers met together in each other's homes - to pray and praise God together. They often had meals together. They shared everything they had with each other. Sometimes they even sold their things and gave their money to the Apostles. The money was given to believers who were poor. So everyone had enough to eat, and no one had too much.

Jesus had once said to his disciples, "You must love one another, then people will know that you are my disciples." And people saw how Jesus' disciples loved and helped one another.

It was three o'clock in the afternoon. People were going into the Temple to pray. Peter and another Apostle named John, were also going into the Temple.

At the gate of the Temple sat a man who was lame. He had never walked since he was born. He called out to Peter and John, "Give me some money." Peter looked at the man. He wanted the man to be healed. He believed Jesus' words, "In my name you will heal people who are sick." Peter said to the man, "Look at us." The man looked at Peter and John. He thought they were going to give him some money. But Peter said, "I don't have any money. But I will give you what I have - in Jesus' name, get up and walk." Peter held the man's hand and helped him up. Immediately, the man's legs became strong. He jumped up and stood on his feet. He began to walk about by himself.

Peter and John went into the Temple. The man went in with them, walking and jumping and praising God. The people in the Temple saw the man walking and jumping and praising God. They recognised him as the man who was lame. They had often seen him sitting at the gate - asking people for money. They were amazed to see him walking and jumping and praising God.

The man who was healed followed Peter and John. He held on to them and would not let them go, and the people crowded around them. Peter saw that the people were amazed at what had happened. He said to them, "Why are all of you so amazed? Why do you keep on looking at us? Do you think we have healed this man by our own power? No, he was not healed by our power. He was healed by the power of Jesus' name.

Almighty God has given his glory to Jesus. He has sent Jesus to you, but you did not want him. You let him be killed on the cross, but God made him alive again - we saw this and know that it's true"

The people stood there quietly, listening to Peter, and he went on speaking to them. He said, "My brothers, you and your leaders didn't know the truth in God's word. That's why you had Jesus killed on the cross. It was God's plan that the Messiah had to suffer and die on the cross - and on the third day come alive again. Be sorry for your sins and come to God. He will forgive you."

Many of the people believed what Peter had said to them. They became believers, and all the people who were there praised God - for the man who was healed was more than forty years old.