INTRODUCTION TO THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

recorded by the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke many years after the sufferings of our Lord

This book is called the Acts of the Apostles because it con tains information on their activities.

It is authored by the evan gelist Luke who was an Antiochian by birth and a physician by profession. He accompanied the Apostles, most of all St. Paul, and knew what he wrote about.

He tells us about the ascension of our Lord raised by the angels and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and all those who were present there at that time at Pentecost;

the election of Matthias to replace Judas the betrayer;

the appointment of seven deacons;

the admission of Paul, his sufferings and travel to Rome;

and the miracles of the Apostles through prayer and faith in Christ.

These are the names of the Apostles:

1. First Simon known as Peter,
2. Andrew his brother,
3. James son of Zebedee
4. and John his brother,
5. Philip
6. and Bartholomew,
7. Thomas
8. and Matthew the former tax collector,
9. James the son of Alaphaeus,
10. Simon the Zealot,
11. Judas the son of James,
12. and Matthias who was added to the eleven to replace Judas the betrayer.

These are the names of the appointed deacons:

1. Stephen,
2. Philip,
3. Procopus,
4. Nicanor,
5. Timon,
6. Parmenas,
7. and Nicolas.

Afterwards Paul, the selected vessel, was accepted. The miracles and wonders of these apostles are (inscribed) here.