A Story of God and All of Us Young Reade - By Roma Downey Page 0,43

hallowed be thy name...."

John and the others pick up the words, and all join hands. "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

The lamps in the room flicker and smoke as the prayer continues. The room grows suddenly dark. The wind outside rises, and the sound fills the room.

Shutters bang open. Scared but unbowed, the disciples continue praying.

Tongues of fire enter the room and settle upon each apostle. The Holy Spirit fills them. Soon all of them are praying in different languages, even though none of them have ever understood those tongues before. In this way, they are being prepared to go out unto all nations and preach the Word of God.

Empowered and renewed, the disciples march down the stairs and open the door. They scan the crowd for signs of Romans or Pharisees or temple guards. "People of Israel," says Peter, with a sense of poise and command that surprises all of the disciples. Peter has been radically changed by God's saving grace.

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"God promised King David that one of his descendants would be placed upon his throne. A man whose flesh could not be corrupted. Now God has raised Jesus to life. Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah. He is the Christ.

Come join us!"

John chimes in, "Join us!"

The crowd roars in approval, chanting, "Jesus is the Lord." People clamor for Peter's blessing, reaching out to touch him. But the upheaval does not go unnoticed. Within moments, a Roman centurion hovers on the edge of the crowd.

"We're taking our chances here," John whispers to Peter.

"Jesus risked his life every day," responds Peter.

It is morning in Jerusalem, and yet another of the city's many beggars begins his day. The man's legs will not support him, so he uses his arms to drag himself to his usual spot. His knuckles are calloused and his skin filthy from years of the same ritual--dragging and then squatting, his body all too often coated in the grit and dust of a busy city going about its day.

A stranger drops a coin into his hand. The beggar nods in thanks but does not make eye contact.

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Peter approaches. The beggar does not know him and holds out his hand, palm up. Peter stops and crouches down. The beggar looks at him with curious eyes, as if some great evil will befall him next. Peter has been trailed at a distance by a small crowd of new believers, and they edge closer, eager to see if Peter will do what they hope he will do. Peter and the beggar lock eyes. "I don't have silver or gold," Peter tells him. "But what I have, I will give to you." Peter raises his own palm to the sky. "In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and savior, I want you to stand." Peter places his right hand in that of the beggar. He lifts gently but then lets go. The beggar rises to his feet on his own power.

"It's a miracle," cries a voice in the crowd.

Peter responds by turning to face these new believers. "Why are you surprised? Do you think that he is healed by my power? Or by that of my fellow apostles? No. It is by Jesus' power that this man walks. Jesus is the Messiah!"

The beggar has a dizzy smile on his face, and walks around for the first time in his life.

"Jesus did this!" chants the crowd. "Jesus did this!"

Not far away, inside the great temple, the high priest Caiaphas hears the roar.

"What are they saying?" he asks Malchus. As always, his servant hovers just a few feet away. But Malchus

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doesn't get the chance to answer, for a furious Caiaphas has deciphered the sounds for himself. "Why are they chanting that wretched man's name?"

Caiaphas demands. "Why!"

Malchus remains silent as Caiaphas launches into a furious rant. "We'll have the Romans down on us any minute. I told you to deal with these people before this could happen. And now it is done, and I am once again forced to deal with it. Bring the ringleaders to me!"

Within the hour, the temple guards have bound and beaten Peter and John.

They drag the two into Caiaphas's chamber and hurl them to the floor. The healed beggar, now clearly terrified, is led in by the arm.

"Stand up," Caiaphas says crisply as he enters the room. He's just received word that more than five thousand people have become followers of Jesus since hearing the beggar was healed. This is an enormous