Conclusion

1The apostles established this while they were gathered in the upper chamber in Jerusalem. They established it for those who heard and followed them and who, through their hands, believed in the Lord from among the Jews and all the nations. They established it for the whole world, because the Holy Spirit, who descended upon them on the height of Zion at the Feast of Pentecost, became wisdom for them and instructed them in everything required, just as our Lord Christ had promised them in all their works.

2They had no difficulty in this, because they had assistance through the authority that had been given to them. They understood the knowledge of God and carried it out, for they feared for those who followed them and believed through their hands, lest wolves lying in wait should come and snatch them from behind. For there are people who resemble the apostles and come in the appearance of sheep, but they are ravening wolves. Our Lord had already told them this.

3Paul, the messenger of righteousness, and Silvanus his assistant, when they traveled through the land of Syria and other places, also commanded those who had believed through their hands and through the hands of all the apostles. They did not assemble again, but carried out this command while reading the exposition of the Holy Scriptures. They revealed to the people what was in it for the salvation of their souls and made a law and an order for the holy church. They did this in humility and gentleness. They brought hidden things out before the people and displayed a miracle like that which their Lord had performed, and the same took place through their hands.

4Many people came to them each day and believed in Christ through their hands. People came to them from distant countries, heard their words, and received their commands and their exact teaching in truth. Nicodemus and Gamaliel, the chief priests, and an assembly of Jews came secretly and received their teaching and commands when they saw them bring hidden things to light.

5Anqo, Levi, Qeday, Neri, Hanna, Caiaphas, and Alexander, priests of the Jews, came by night, believed, and confessed, “He is the Christ whom we denounced as false. He is the Messiah of righteousness concerning whom the prophets prophesied. He is truly the Son of God.” They did not make this public because of their fear of the Jews.

6The apostles received them, rejoiced over them, and said to them, “It is not fitting for you to act in this way. Do not be ashamed before people, and do not fear them. You will bring your lives to an end in error and vanity. Rather, you must fear God, from whom nothing is hidden. Do not die in this halfway state and be reckoned with your fathers in the blood of our Lord Christ, against whom your fathers acted presumptuously. If you have believed in Christ, you must instead be bold openly, believe in the faith proclaimed by the apostles, and receive everyone whom he calls to himself.”

7When the priests of the Jews heard their words, they cried out in a loud voice among all the apostles and said, “Truly, we believe in Christ, whom the Jews crucified, who was buried and rose on the third day. We believe that he is God, the First from eternity, and that he will take vengeance upon those who crucified him. We are separated from them.”

8They disclosed to all the people what had been hidden, believed openly, and did not part from the apostles. The apostles instructed them in everything they had taught the people from the new law, which is the chosen order that came forth from Zion, as Scripture says. They heard the teaching and practiced it before all the people. If suffering befell the apostles, they helped them. They endured beatings, rebukes, and every humiliation because of their belief in Christ. They rejoiced in everything that befell them and advanced all the more toward faith in our Lord Christ.

9After the apostles went out into the world, they became leaders of the holy church. They commanded and taught the people everything they had received from the apostles. Before their deaths they commanded those who would come after them, their disciples.

10Paul the ascetic related it; James wrote in Jerusalem, Simon Peter in the city of Rome, John in Ephesus, Mark in Alexandria, Andrew in [Afrəga], Luke in Macedonia, and Jude and Thomas from the land of [Hindake], for the leaders and faithful throughout the whole world. The writings and the message were to be received and read in all the churches of God, just as the Account of the Apostles written by Luke is read, so that they might know that the apostles, the prophets, and the writings of the former and the new agree with one another. They all call to one righteousness and one word. They are all of one Spirit, who is the Holy Spirit, from the one God whom we all worship.

11The apostles were sent out, preached concerning him, and on journeys called to him everyone far from their own lands. The apostles taught everything they had received from our Lord Jesus Christ. People received them and believed in him throughout every city and country, even to the ends of the whole world. The power of God assisted them, and they grew strong. His word did not prove false, for he said, “I shall be with you until the consummation of the world.”

12With this they prevailed in the contest with the Jews through the books of the prophets, and they contended with sorcerers through the awe-inspiring miracles they performed in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. All the nations of foreign lands accepted the call to faith in Christ without compulsion.

13When suffering befell them because of him, they said, “This suffering that has befallen us will speak on our behalf, because we too provoked him who created us.” Some among them were crucified. Some were killed by the sword and endured it patiently. Some had their possessions plundered amid struggle many times. Some were separated from their possessions, children, and homes. While they were under condemnation, they were tortured, and they willingly endured until they died because of their faith in Christ.

14They multiplied and increased. Their preaching and their call did not diminish until they had spread throughout the four corners of the world.

15The apostles did not establish all these things when they first began to proclaim and call people to faith. Rather, they labored to bring everyone from error, perversity, and idolatry into justice and faith. They forbade them to eat meat slaughtered for gods, dead animals, blood, and what had been offered to a foreign god.

16When those who believed in Christ became numerous, and some among them became preachers and evangelists, there arose a desire to make a command and an order for the correction of the law and the completion of its practice. The apostles then gave them this canon, which is called in the Greek language [ṭəlsat]. In it Christ’s apostles—good, righteous, and pure guides—agreed, and they commanded that it be practiced. Condemnation is fitting for whoever transgresses it, and we too follow in their footsteps.