THE ACTS
OF THE
APOSTLES.
. I COMPOSED, O Theophilus, the former treatise con-
£ cerning all that Jesus took occasion both to do and teach till
the day when he was taken up, after giving a charge by the
Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen, and to whom
3 he had, after his suffering, shewn himself to be alive, by many proofs, during forty days appearing to them, and speaking
4 of what concerned the kingdom of God. Then assembling them together, he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which you have heard
5 from me.* For John indeed baptized in water, but you shall be baptized in a Holy Spirit not many days hence. When they
6 therefore were come together they asked him, saying, Lord, art thou at this time aljout to restore the kingdom to Israel ?
7 Whereupon he said to them, It is not for you to know times and seasons which the Father hath reserved in his own dispo-
8 sal. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit is come upon you; and you shall be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the remotest part of the earth.
9 And having said this, while they were beholding [him] he
* See John 14. 26: 15.-26: 16,1. Luke 24. 49.
10 was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. And as they continued looking stedfastly up to heaven, while he was going, behold! two men stood near them, robed in
11 white, who addressed them, saying, Men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up to heaven? This same Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same manner as you have seen him going to heaven.
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called
13 Olives, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey* from it. And when they came in, they went up into the upper room, where Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James, son of Alpheus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James, usually
14 made their abode. These all continued with one mind in prayer and supplication, with the women, particularly Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
15 And in those days Peter rising up in the midst of the disciples, (the number of persons assembled being about one hun-
16 dred and twenty) said, Men, brethren, It was necessary that this scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit predicted, by the mouth of David, concerning Judas who was
17 guide to them who laid hold on Jesus; because he was num-
18 beredwithus,and had a part of this service allotted him—(Now this man indeed had purchased! a field with the reward of his iniquity, and, falling on his face, had burst asunder, and all
19 his bowels gushed out; and this was so generally known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that the field is called in their
20 language, Akeldama, that is field of blood) “for it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his fold be desolate, and let tliere be no
21 inhabitant therein.^” And, His office let another take;\ It is necessary therefore, that one of these men who have accompanied us, during all the time that the Lord Jesus came in and
22 went out over us, beginning from the baptism of John to the day on which he was taken up from us, should be a witness
* About a mile. f That is, according to the Hebrew idiom,
had occasioned a field to be purchased,. t Ps. 69. 25, $109.8.
Vol. iv. n d
\
\
23 with us of his resurrection.” So they set up two, Joseph call-
24 ed Barsabas, who was surnamecl Justus, and Matthias. And having prayed, saying, “Thou, O Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, shew which of these two thou hast chosen to take
25 the share of this ministration and apostleship which Judas
26 abandoned to go to his own place,” they cast lots; and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
- Now when the day of pentecost * was fully come, they
2 were all with one accord in the same place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of a mighty rushing wind, which
3 filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them separate tongues, as of fire, and it settled
4 on each of them. And they were all filled with a holy spirit and began to speak in different languages, as the spirit gave
5 them to make solemn addresses. Now there were residing at Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven.
6 So when this report spread, the multitude came together and
7 were confounded. Because every one heard them speaking in his own peduliar dialect; therefore they were astonished and expressed their amazement, saying one to another, Behold!
8 are not all these men who speak, Galileans”? How then do we
9 hear, every one in his own native tongue! Parthians and Medes and Elamites and the inhabitants of Mesopotamia and Judea,
10 and Capadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphilia, Egypt and the parts of Lybia about Gyrene, the Roman
11 strangers also both Jews and Proselytes, Cretans and Arabs, we hear them speaking, in our own tongues, the wonderful
12 dispensations of God. So they were all amazed and in suspense, saying to one another, What can be the meaning of
13 this ? But others scoffingly said, They are filled with sweet wine.
14 Whereupon Peter, as he was standing with the eleven, raised his voice and thus solemnly addressed them, ” Men of Judea and all ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, let this be made
15 known to you ; and listen attentively to my words : for these
* Pentecost the 5Oth day. See Lev. 23. 15, 16.
men are not drunk as you suppose; for it is but the third 1{> hour* of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet
17 Joel, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, that I will pour out a portion of my spirit upon all flesh ; and your sons and your daughters shall pro’phesy; and your young
18 men shall see visions; and your old men shall dream dreams; and upon my servants, and upon my handmaids, in those days I will pour out a portion of my spirit, and they shall prophe-
19 sy : and I will exhibit wonders in the heaven above, and signs
20 on the earth beneath—blood and fire and smoky vapour. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and illustrious day of the Lord.
21 And it shall come to pass, that whoever will call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.f’
22 “Men of Israel hear these words—Jesus the Nazarene, a man from God, pointed out to you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God performed by him among you, as you
23 yourselves know.—Him, being surrendered up by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken ; and by the hands of wicked men have crucified and slain.—
24 Him God hath raised up, having loosed the bondsj of death, as it was not possible that he could be holden by it: for concerning him David saith, I saw the Lord continually before
25 me : because he is at my right hand that I may not be mov-
26 ed ; therefore my heart was gladdened, and my tongue exulted with joy ; and moreover my flesh also will dwell in hope,
27 that thou wilt not leave my soul in the mansion of the dead,^
28 nor suffer thy Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life. Thou with thy presence wilt fill me with joy.||”
29 ” Men, brethren, permit me to speak freely to you concerning the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried;
30 and his sepulchre is among us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn to him with an oath, that from the fruit of his loins he would, as far as re- gardeth the flesh, raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, he
* Nine o’clock, A. M. f Joel, 2. 28, &c. Literally, pangs or pains, the cause being put for the effect. § Literally Hades, the place of departed spirits. || Ps, 16. 8, &c.
31 spoke prophetically of the resurrection of the Christ, that his soul was not left in the mansion of the dead, nor did his flesh
32 see corruption.-—This very Jesus God hath raised up, of which
33 we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he hath poured out this which you now see
34 and hear. For David did not ascend into the heavens; yet he
35 saith, ” The Lord said to my lord, Sit at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.*” Therefore let all the
36 house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus whom ye have crucified, Lord and Christ.
37 Upon hearing this, they were pierced to the heart and said
38 to Peter and the rest of the apostles, Men, brethren, What shall we do? Thereupon Peter said to them, Repent and let every one of you be baptized to the remission of sins for the name of Jesus Christ, and you will receive the gift of the Ho-
39 ly Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all them afar off, whomsoever the Lord our God may in-
40 vite.” And with many other words he obtested and exhorted them, saying, ” Save yourselves from this depraved genera-
41 tion.” Then they who gladly received his word were baptized, and about three thousand souls were that day added; and con-
42 tinued stedfast in the doctrine of the apostles and in the com,
43 munity, and in the breaking of the loaf, and in prayers, and there was fear on every soul; and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44 Now all they who believed were together, and had all
45 things in common; and they sold their possessions and goods
46 and distributed them to all, as any had need. And continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at
47 home, they partook of food with joy and singleness of heart, praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added daily to the congregation them who were cured.
*Ps. 110. 1.
III. Now at the same time that Peter and John were going up
2 to the temple at the hour of prayer, namely, at the ninth hour,* there was a certain man carried up who had been lame from his birth, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple, call-
3 ed Beauty-Gate, to ask alms of them who were going int\ the temple; who seeing Peter and John just about to enter the
4 temple, begged to receive an alms. Whereupon Peter and John
5 having fixed their eyes on him, Peter said, Look on us. Upon which he looked earnestly at them, expecting to receive some-
6 thing from them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold I have none. But what I have, that I give thee. In the name of Jesus
7 Christ the Nazarene, rise up and walk. Then having taken him by the right hand he raised him up. And instantly his
8 feet and ankle bones were strengthened ; and leaping up, he stood; then walked and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God,
10 and recollected that he was the man who used to sit begging at the Beauty-gate of the temple, they were filled with wonder
11 and astonishment at what had happened to him. And while the lame man who was cured, kept hold of Peter and John, all the people in amaze crowded to them in the portico called So-
12 lomon’s. Now when Peter saw this he thus addressed the people.
” Men of Israel, why wonder ye at this? Or why do ye fix your eyes on us, as if we by our own power or piety had made
13 this man walk? The God of Abraham, and Isaak, and Jacob— the God of our fathers hath glorified his servant Jesus whom ye delivered up. Yes, you renounced him in the presence of
14 Pilate, when he had determined to release him : you indeed renounced the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murder-
15 er to be granted to you. You indeed killed him who is the conductor to life, whom God hath raised from the dead, of which
16 we are witnesses. Now for the belief in his name, his name hath strengthened this man whom you see and know. Yes, the belief which is by him hath given this man this perfect sound-
17 ness in the presence of you all. And now brethren, I know that
Three o’clock afternoon, the time of the evening sacrifice.
it \vas through ignorance that both’ you and your rulers acted
18 thus; and that what God foretold by the mouth of all his prophets—That The Christ Should Suffer, he hath thus
19 accomplished. Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be blotted out, that seasons of refreshment may come from the
20 presence of the Lord; and that he may send him who hath been
21 before hand proclaimed to you^-namely, Jesus Christ, whom the heaven must receive till the time of the consummation of all which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy pro-
22 phets of old: for Moses indeed said to the fathers, ” The Lord your God will raise up for you from among your brethren a prophet like me. To him you must hearken according
23 to all that he shall speak to you; and whoever the person be who will not hearken to that prophet, he shall be cut off front
24 among the people.* All the prophets also from Samuel, even
25 as many of the following ones as have spoken, have likewise foretold these days. You are the children of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham ” And by thy seed all the families of the earth shall
26 be blessed.f” It is to you first that God, having raised up his son Jesus, hath sent him, blessing you, when you turn every one from his iniquities.
- Now while they were speaking to the people; the priests,
2 and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, displeased at their teaching the people and promulgating by Jesus the re-
3 surrection from the dead, came on them, and laid hands on
4 them, and put them in prison till the next day. For it was now evening. But many of those who heard the word believed. And the number of the men became about five thousand.
5 And on the morrow their rulers, and elders, and Scribes at
6 Jerusalem assembled, with Annas the chief priest, and Caia-
7 phas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the pontifical family; and having set them in the midst, they asked
8 by what power, or by what name, have you done this ? Then Peter being filled with a holy spirit, said to them,
9 Rulers of the people and elders of Israel, if \Ve are this day 10 examined for a good deed done to an infirm man, by what means he hath been healed, be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Na- zarene, whom ye crucified—whom God raised from the dead
*Deut. 18. 15, &c. |Gen– 18. 18. and 22. 18.
11 —by him this man standeth before you, perfectly cured. This is the stone that was rejected by you the builders, which
12 was for the head of the corner.* This cure indeed is by no other, nor is there any other name under heaven given among men by which we can be saved.”
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and found that they were illiterate men, and in private stations of life, they wondered; and recollected their having been with
J4 Jesus. And seeing the man who was cured standing with 15 them, they could make no reply. So, having ordered them to
withdraw from the Sanhedrim, they conferred among them- 16» selves, saying, What can we do with these men? For that a
signal miracle hath indeed been done by them, is manifest to
17 all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But that it may not spread farther among the people, let us severely threaten them not to speak any more for this name to
18 any man. So having called them in, they gave them this general charge, not to make solemn addresses, noY teach, for the
19 name of that Jesus. But Peter and John in reply to them, said, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken to you ra-
20 ther than to God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the
21 things which we have seen and heard. So, having further threatened them, they dismissed them, not finding how to punish them, because of the people who all glorified God for
22 that which was done. For the man, upon whom this miracle of healing was performed, was above forty years old. So, be-
23 ing discharged, they went to their brethren and told them all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them; which when they heard, they with one accord raised their voice to
24 God and said, O Lord, thou art the God, who madest the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that are therein, who
25 by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, “Why did na-
26 tions rage, and tribes meditate vain things?”
* Ps. 118. 22.
“The kings of the earth combined, and the chiefs assembled together against the Lord and against his Axcri NTsD.*”
27 For indeed against thy holy Child Jesus whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with nations and
28 the tribes of Israel, were gathered together, to do what thy
29 hand and thy council had determinately marked out beforehand to be brought to pass. Now with regard to present occurrences, look down, O Lord, on their threatenings, and ena-
30 ble thy servants to speak thy word with all freedom when thou stretchest forth thy hand for healing; and signs and. wonders are done by the name of thy holy child, Jesus. And while they
31 were praying, the place in which they were assembled was shaken. And they were all filled with a Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.
32 Now the whole body of the believers were of one heart and one soul. And no one said that any of his goods were his own; but all things were common among them. And the apostles delivered with great power the testimony of the resurrection of
33 the Lord Jesus. And there was great thank fulness among them all; for there was not one indigent person among them: for as
34 many as were proprietors of lands or houses sold them and
35 brought the prices of the things sold, which being laid at the apostles’ feet, distribution was made to every one according as
36 any had need. In particular Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, the signification of which is Son of Consolation, a Levite, and by birth a Cyprian, having an estate, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But
- there was a’certain man named Ananias, who with his wife Sapphira sold an estate and kept back a part of the price, his
2 wife also being privy to it. And having brought a certain part
3 he laid it at the feet of the apostles. Upon which Peter said, Ananias, Why hath Satan filled thy heart that thou shouldst lie to the Holy Spirit, and keep back a part of the price of
4 the land? While it remained, did it not remain thine? And when sold it was still at thine own disposal. Why then hast thou determined this thing in thy heart? Thou hast not lied to
*Ps. 2. l,&c.
men, but to God. Upon hearing these words Ananias fell down and expired. And great fear came upon all who heard
6 these things. Then the young men arose and having swathed
7 him, they carried him out and buried him. And about the space of three hours after, his wife, not knowing what had
8 happened, came in. And Peter said to her, Tell me ; did you
9 sell the land for such a price ? And she said, Yes, for so much. Thereupon Peter said to her, How is it that you have agreed to try the spirit of the Lord ? Behold the feet of them, who have buried thy husband are at the door, and they will
10 carry thee out. At that instant she fell at his feet and e»-
11 pired. And the young men coming in found her dead. So they carried her out and buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon all the congregation, and upon all that
12 heard these things; and by the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people :
Now they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch,
13 and of the rest no one presumed to join himself to them, but
14 the people magnified them, and believers in the Lord, multi^
15 tudes both of men and women were more and more added so that in every street they brought out the sick and laid them on beds and couches, that the shadow of Peter as he went along might overshadow some of them.
16 But when the multitude also of the cities around flocked to Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those who were tormented
17 with unclean spirits, who were all cured; the chief priest rising up, and all his party—the sect of the Sadducees, they
18 were filled with zeal, and laid their hands on the apostles and
19 put them in the common prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison ; and having
20 brought them out said, Go, and having taken your station in the temple, speak to the people all the words of this life.
21 Upon hearing this they went into the temple about break of day, and taught. Now when the chief priest was come with his party and had convened the Sanhedrim and all the elders of the children of Israel, they sent to the prison to have them
22 brought up. But when the officers went and did not find them in the prison ; they returned and made report, saying,
23 We found indeed the prison shut with all safety, and the
Vol. iv. r. e
guards without standing before the door; but on opening
24 we found no one within. And while the priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests, upon hearing these words,
25 were doubting how this could be, there came one who told them, saying, Behold! the men whom you put in prison,
26 are standing in the temple and teaching the people. Then . the captain went with the under officers and brought them,
but without violence ; for they were afraid of being stoned by
27 the people. And when they had brought them, and set them before the Sanhedrim, the chief priest asked them, saying,
£8 Did we not strictly charge you not to teach for this name”? Yet behold you have filled Jerusalem with this doctrine of
29 yours and wish to bring that man’s blood upon us. In reply to which Peter and the apostles said, We must obey God
30 rather than men. The God of our fathers hath raised up Jesus, whom ye slew, having caused him to be suspended
31 on a cross—even him, a chief leader and a Saviour, God hath exalted at his right hand to give repentance to Israel and
32 a remission of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things, as is also the Holy Spirit which God hath granted to them who obey him.
33 At hearing this they were cut to the heart, and consulted
34 to put them to death. But there stood up a man in the Sanhedrim—a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, in great esteem among all the people ; and having moved that
35 the apostles withdraw for a little while, he said to them, “Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves how you proceed in regard
36 to these men. For some time ago Theudas started up, saying that he was an. extraordinary person, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves. He was destroyed, and all that put confidence in him were broken up and
37 came to nothing. After him started up Judas, the Galilean, in the days of the enrolment, and drew a great many people after him. He also perished, and ali that put confidence in
38 him were dispersed. Now therefore on this occasion I say to you, Forbear from meddling with these men, and let them
39 alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men,-it will moulder away. But if it be of God you cannot annul it. Per-
40 adventure you may be found even fighting against God.” So
to him they agreed: and having called in the apostles and scourged them, they charged them not to speak about the
41 name of Jesus and dismissed them. Thereupon they went from the presence of the Sanhedrim, rejoicing that they were
42 counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And every day, both in the temple and at home, they ceased not to teach and
publish the glad tidings, That Jesus is the Christ. VI. Now in those days, the number of the disciples being multiplied, there was a murmuring of the Hellenists* against the Hebrews that their widows were neglected in the daily
2 distribution. Wherefore the twelve having called together the multitude of the disciples said, It is not proper that we
3 should leave the word of God to attend tables: look out therefore, brethren, from among yourselves seven men of good reputation, full of a holy spirit and wisdom, whom we may ap-
4 point to this office. And as for us, we will continue in the constant exercise of prayer, and in the ministration of the
5 word. And this speech pleased the whole multitude. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and a holy spirit, and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor and Timon and Parmenias
6 and Nicholas a proselyte of Antioch, whom they set before the apostles, who having prayed, laid their hands on them.
7 So the word of God spread, and the number of disciples was greatly multiplied in Jerusalem, and a great multitude of the priests became obedient to the faith.
8 Now Stephen being full of faith and power performed mi-
9 racles and great signs among the people, and there arose some of the synagogue of the Libertini, as it was called, and of the Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia,
10 who disputed with Stephen; but not being able to withstand the wisdom and spirit with which he spoke, they suborned
11 men to say, We heard him speak blasphemous words against
12 Moses, and against God. And having stirred up the people and the elders and the Scribes, they came upon him and seiz-
13 ed him, and brought him to the Sanhedrim, and set up false witnesses, who said, This man is incessantly speaking blas-
* Jews who spoke the Greek language.
14 phemous words against this holy place and the law ; for we heard him saying that Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to
15 us. And all who sat in the Sanhedrim, looking stedfastly at him, beheld hjs countenance, like the countenance of an angel.
VIT. Then the chief priest said, Are these things so ? Upon which he said,
2 Men, brethren and fathers hearken. The God of the glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopo-
3 tamia, before he dwelt in Charran, and said to him, Depart from this country of thine, and from thy kindred, and come
4 to the land which I will shew thee. Thereupon he went from the land of the Chaldces, and dwelt in Charran; and thence after his father died, God removed him to this land in which you now dwell, but gave him no inheritance in it; not even
5 a foot of land. He indeed promised that he would give it to him for a possession, even to his seed after him, though he
6 then had no child. And God spake thus—That his seed should sojourn in a strange land and be enslaved and afflicted:
7 four hundred years: and the nation which they shall serve I will judge, said God, and after that they shall come out and
8 serve me in this” place. Then he gave him the covenant of circumcision. So Abraham begat Isaak, and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaak begat Jacob; and Jacob, the twelve
9 patriarchs. And the patriarchs, being moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him, and delivered him
10 out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharao king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler
11 over Egypt, and all his household. And there came a famine over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan. It was indeed a great
12 affliction and our fathers found no sustenance. So when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent our fathers the
13 first time ; and on their second going down Joseph made himself known to his brothers; and Joseph’s kindred was made
14 luiown to Pharao. Then Joseph sent for his father Jacob and
15 all his kindred, amounting to threescore and fifteen souls. So
16 Jacob went down to Egypt and died, he and our fathers, and were conveyed to Sychem, and deposited in the sepulchre which Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of £Chet, and in the field bought of*] Emmer the Sychemite.
17 And as the time approached for accomplishing the promise which God had made with an oath to Abraham, the people in-
18 creased and multiplied in Egypt, until another king arose,
19 who knew not Joseph. This king, mischievously politic against our family, ill treated our fathers, causing their children to be ex posed that they might not be preserved alive. At this time
20 Moses was born, who was exceeding beautiful, and was nurs-
21 ed up three months in his father’s house. Being then ex posed, Pharao’s daughter took him up and had him nursed for her
22 own son. So Moses was instructed in all the wisdom .of tlie Egyptians, and became mighty in council and in actions. And
23 when he was forty years old it came into his mind to visit his brethren, the children of Israel. And seeing one of them in-
24 jured, he defended him and avenged the injury by killing the
25 Egyptian. Now he supposed that his brethren would understand that by his hand God was about to give them deliver-
26 ance. But they understood not, and on the next day when he shewed himself to them who were quarrelling and persuaded
27 them to peace, saying, Men, you are brethren, Why do ye injure one another? He who was doing his neighbour the in. jury thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a chief and a
28 judge over us? Dost thou mean to kill me as thou didst the
29 Egyptian yesterday? At this speech Moses fled and became a sojourner in the land of Madiam, where he became the father
30 of two sons. And when forty years were completed, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in the wilderness at mount Sinai,
31 in a flame of fire in a bush, which when Moses saw, he was astonished at the vision. And as he was going near to view it, there came a voice of the Lord to him, ” I am die God of thy
32 fathers—the God of Abraham, and die God of Isaak, and the God of Jacob.” Upon which Moses trembled and durst not
33 view it. Then the Lord said to him, Loose the sandals from
34 thy feet, for the place where thou standest is holy ground.
* These words I have added to supply a line which appears to have been omitted by ancient transcribers.
I have indeed seen the affliction of my people in Egypt, and have heard their groaning and am come down to deliver them. Now therefore come, I will send thee to Egypt. This Mbses
35 whom they rejected, saying, Who made thee a chief and a judge—this very person God sent as a chief and a deliverer by the hand of an angel who appeared to him in the bush—This
36 person brought them out by performing wonders and signs in
37 Egypt and at the Red sea, and in the wilderness, forty years. * This is the very Moses who said to the children of Israel, The
Lord your God will raise up for you, from among your bre-
38 thren, a prophet like me, to him you are to hearken. This is the person who was in the congregation in the wilderness, with the angel who spake to him at mount Sinai, and with our fathers; who received living oracles to give to us; to whom our
39 fathers would not be obedient, but rejected him, when with
40 their hearts they turned towards Egypt, saying to Aaron, Make gods for us to go before us; for as for this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what is
41 become of him. So they made a calf in those days and brought a sacrifice for the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own
42 hands. Therefore God turned and gave them up to worship the host of heaven. As it is written in the book of the Prophets, “Have you, O house of Israel, offered to me burnt offerings
43 and sacrifices, forty years in the wilderness? You have indeed taken up the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of your God Remphan—those types which you have made to worship them; therefore I will transport you beyond Babylon.*
44 The tabernacle of the testimony was among our fathers in the wilderness, as he who spoke to Moses had ordered it to be made according to the pattern which he had seen. This taber-
45 nacle, which our fathers with Joshua received and brought into the territory of the nations which God drove out from before our fathers, continued till the days of David; who found
46 favour in the sight of God, and made it his petition to find a
47 habitation for the God of Jacob. But it was Solomon who
48 built a house for him. But the Most High dwelleth not in 49 temples made with hands. As the prophet saith, “The hea-
* Amos 5. 25, &c.
50 ven is my throne, and the earth, my footstool. What sort of a house will you build for me? saith the Lord. And of what sort shall be the place of my rest? Did not my hands make all these things?*”
51 O stiff necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! Ye do
52 always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? Indeed they have slain them who prophesied concerning the coming of that Righteous one, of whom you have now become
53 the betrayers and murderers—you who have received the law through ranks of angels, but have not kept it.
54 At hearing this they were cut to the heart and gnashed
55 their teeth at him. But he being full of a holy spirit, having his eyes fixed towards heaven, beheld the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God: whereupon he said,
56 Behold! I see the heavens opened and the Son of man standing
57 at the right hand of God. At which Uiey screamed aloud, and stopped jtheir ears and rushed upon him with one accord.
58 And having driven him out of the city they stoned him. And the witnesses laid their mantles at the feet of a young man named Saul, and stoned Stephen, invoking and saying, Lord
59 Jesus, receive my spirit. Then he kneeled down and cried CO with a loud voice, O! Lord, charge not this sin to their account;
and having said this he fell asleep.
VIH: Now Saul continued to express satisfaction at his death: and there was at that time a great persecution against the congregation which was at Jerusalem; and all, except the apostles, were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria.
2 While devout men were carrying Stephen to the grave and making great lamentation for him, Saul was making havock of
3 the congregation. Entering into houses and dragging out men and women, he committed them to prison.
4 They, however, who were dispersed, went about proclaim-
5 ing the glad tidings of the word; and Philip having come to a
6 city of Samaria, proclaimed to them the Christ. And the
* Es. 66. 1.
crowds with one accord attended to what were spoken by Philip, when they heard and saw the signal miracles which he
7 performed. For unclean spirits, with which many were pos-
8 sessed, went out of them with loud outcries: and many paralytic and lame persons were cured. And there was great joy in that city.
9 Now there was a certain man, named Simon, who had heretofore practised magical arts in that city and astonished the nation of Samaria, pretending that he was an extraordinary
10 person, to whom all paid regard, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. To him indeed
11 they paid regard because for a long time he had astonished
12 them with his magical arts. But when they believed Philip’s proclamation of the glad tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both
13 men and women. And even Simon himself believed, and being baptized, he continued steadily with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles done, he was astonished.
14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Pe-
15 ter and John, who having gone down, prayed for them that
16 they might receive a holy spirit. For it had not yet fallen on any of them, and they were only baptized to the name of the
17 Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they re-
18 ceived a holy spirit. When Simon saw that by the laying Chi of the hands of the apostles the holy spirit was given, he of-
19 fered them money, saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay my hands he may receive a holy spirit.
20 Whereupon Peter said to him, let thy money with thee be for
21 destruction! Because thou hast thought that this free gift of God may be purchased with money, thou hast no portion nor share in this matter, for thy heart is not right in the sight of
22 God. Repent therefore of this wickedness of thine; and beseech God, if indeed this thought of thy heart can be forgiven thee.
23 For I perceive that thou art for bitter gall and for a bond of ini-
24 quity. In reply to which Simon said, Pray ye to the Lord for me that none of these things which you have mentioned may come upon me.
25 Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they set out on their return to Jerusalem, and commu-
26 nicated the glad tidings to many villages of the Samaritans. In the mean while an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Arise and go southward on the road which leadeth down from Jerusalem to Gaza, namely, the desert road. So he arose and
27 went. And lo! a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch, a grandee of Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians, who was her high trea-
28 surer, who had come to Jerusalem to worship, and was on his return, was sitting in a chariot and reading the prophet Esaias.
29 And the Spirit said to Philip, Go near and keep close to that
30 chariot. So Philip ran close up and heard him reading the prophet Esaias. Whereupon he said, Dost thou understand
31 -what thou art reading ? To which he replied, How can I un-
32 less some one guide me? Then he invited Philip to come up and take a seat with him. Now the passage of scripture which he was reading was this, “He was led as a sheep to slaughter; and as a lamb before its shearer is dumb, so he openeth not
33 his mouth. In his humiliation his legal trial is taken away. Who will declare his manner of life? Because his life is taken from the earth.*”—And the eunuch addressing Philip, said,
34 Of whom, I pray thee, doth the prophet say this? Of himself,
35 or of some other person? Then Philip opened His mouth, and beginning with this scripture, told him the glad tidings of Je-
36 sus. And as they continued the journey, they came to a certain water. Whereupon the eunuch said, Behold! here is water. What hindereth my being baptized? And Philip said, If
37 thou believest with thy whole heart, it may be done. To which
38 he replied, I believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God. Then he ordered the chariot to stop. And they both went do\vh into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
39 And when they came up out of the water, the spirit of the Lord conveyed Philip away. And the eunuch saw him no
40 more. For he proceeded on in his journey rejoicing, and Philip was found at Azotus. And passing on he proclaimed the glad tidings in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
* Esaias 53. 7, &c. VOL. IV. t f
- As for Saul he was still breathing out threatening anfl slaughter against the disciples of the Lord. Having gone to the
2 chief priest, he asked letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, that if he should find any of this way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. But
3 when he was on the road and drawing near to Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And having fal-
4 len on the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul,
5 Saul, Why persecutes! thou me?” And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom thou art persecuting. It is hurting thyself to kick against sharp pointed goads.”
6 Whereupon he trembling and in amaze, said, Lord, What wouldst thou have me do? And the Lord said to him, Arise and go to the city and it will be told thee what thou must do.”
7 Now the men who accompanied him were amazed, hearing
8 indeed the sound, but seeing no one. Then Saul arose from the earth. But as upon opening his eyes he saw nobody, they
9 led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10 Now there was in Damascus a certain disciple named Ananias, And to him the Lord said in a vision, Ananias! And he
11 said, Lord, here lam. Then the Lord said to him, Arise and go to the street, which is called Straight-street, and inquire at the house of Judas for Saul of Tarsus; for behold he is pray-
12 ing, and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias, coming in and laying a hand on him that he may recover sight. Upon
13 which Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many concerning this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints in
14 Jerusalem; and he is here with authority from the chief priests
15 to bind all who invoke thy name. And the Lord said to him, Go: for this person is a vessel which I have chosen to bear my name before nations and kings and the children of Israel. For
16 I will shew him what he must suffer for my name. So Ananias
17 went and entered the house, and having laid his hands on him, said, Brother Saul, The Lord, even Jesus who appeared to thee on the road as thou earnest, hath sent me that thou mayst recover sight and be filled with a holy spirit. Upon this there fell
18 immediately from his eyes something like scales, and instantly he recovered sight. Then he arose and was baptized; and hav
19 ing taken some food, he was strengthened. And Saul was some
20 days with the brethren in Damascus, and forthwith, in the synagogues proclaimed Jesus,* that he is the son of God. At
21 which all that heard were ‘surprised, and said, Is not this he who made havoc of them at Jerusalem, who invoked that name, and came hither on purpose to carry such bound to the chief
22 priests? But Saul was strengthened more and more, and con- Founded the Jews who dwelt at Damascus, proving that this person is the C H R i s T .
23 Now when many days were fulfilled, the Jews conspired
24 to kill him; and Saul was apprized of their plot. As they were
25 watching the gates day and night to murder him, the disciples took him by night and let him down over the wall, lowering
26 him in a basket. And when Saul came to Jerusalem and tried to associate with the disciples, they were all afraid of him, not
27 believing that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and told them, how he had on the road seen the Lord, who had spoken to him; and how he had spoken boldly in Damascus in the name of Jesus. So he was
28 with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem, and speaking
29 boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus. He spoke also and disputed with the Hellenists, and they attempted to kill him. But
30 when the brethren knew this they brought him down to Czesa- rea, and sent him on to Tarsus.
31 Now then the congregations throughout all Judea and Galilee, and Samaria, were enjoying peace. Being built up and walking in the fear of the Lord, and the consolation of the ho-
32 ly spirit, they were multiplied. And it came to pass that as Peter was passing through all, he came down also to the saints
33 who dwelt at Lydda and found there a man, named ./Eneas,
34 who was paralytic, and had been confined to his bed eight years. And Peter said to him, “^Eneas, Jesus, The Christ,
35 cureth thee. Arise and make thy bed.” And he arose immediately. And all the inhabitants of Lydda and Sarona saw him, and turned to the Lord.
36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha,
* I have adopted the reading Jesus, instead of Christ,
(the signification of which in Greek, is Dorcas [a Roe.]) This woman abounded in good works and in acts of charity. And
37 at this time she fell sick and died. And when they had washed her, they laid her out in an upper room. And as Lydda
38 was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, intreating him to come to them without
39 delay. Accordingly Peter arose and went with them. And when he came they took him up to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him, weeping and shewing the tunicks and mantles which Dorcas had made while she was with them.
40 Then Peter, having put them all out, kneeled down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, Tabitha, arise. Up. on which she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, sat up. Then
41 Peter giving her his hand, helped her up, and having called the
42 saints and the widows, presented her alive. And this was known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
43 And after this he continued many days at Joppa with one Simon, a tanner.
- Now there was at Czesarca a certain man named Corneli-
2 us, a centurion of that called the Italian cohort.* He was pious, and feared God with all his household, and did many acts of benevolence to the people, and prayed to God continually.
3 About the ninth hourf of the day, he saw plainly in a vision, an angel of God coming in to him and saying to him, Corneli-
4 us! Upon which he having fixed his eyes on him, and being terrified, said, Lord! what is it? Then the angel said to him, Thy prayers and thine acts of benevolence have ascended for
5 a memorial before God. Now therefore send men to Joppa and
6 call for Simon who is surnamed Peter. He lodgeth with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea side. He will tell
7 thce what thou must do. So when the angel who spoke to him was gone, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier of them who waited on him continually, and
8 having related to them the whole affair, he sent them to Joppa.
9 And on the next day while they were on their journey and approaching towards the city, Peter went up on the house top to
* See Matthew 27. 27. f That is, three in the afternoon.
10 pray, about the sixth hour.* Now he had become hungry and wished to take some refreshment; and while it was preparing he fell into a trance, and saw the heaven opened, and a kind of
11 vessel coming down to him, like a great sheet tied by the four corners, and let down to the earth, in which were all sorts of
12 four footed beasts of the earth, namely, the wild beasts and the
13 reptiles, and the birds of the air. And there came a voice to
14 him, Rise Peter; Kill And Eat. Whereupon Peter said, By no means, Lord. For I have never eaten any thing com-
15 mon or unclean. And a voice said to him a second time,1 What God hath cleansed call not thou that common. And this was
16 done thrice, and then the vessel was again taken up into hea-
17 ven. And while Peter was in great doubt, what this vision which he had seen could mean, behold the men who were sent by Cornelius, having inquired out Simon’s house, stood at the
18 gate, and calling, asked, Doth Simon who is surnamed Peter,
19 lodge here? And while Peter was pondering on the vision, the spirit said to him, Behold there are three men inquiring for tliee.
20 Arise therefore, get thee down and go with them, without any
21 cavilling, for I have sent them. So Peter went down to the men who were sent to him from Cornelius, and said, Behold I am he for whom you are inquiring. What is the cause of your
22 coming? They said, Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man, and one who feareth God, and is approved by the testimony of the whole Jewish nation, hath been divinely warned by a holy angel to send for thee to his house and receive instruction
23 from thee. Peter therefore, having invited them in, entertained them hospitably, and on the morrow he set out with them. And some of the bretliren who were of Joppa accompanied
24 him. And on the day following they arrived at Cassarea, Now Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together
25 his kinsmen and intimate friends. And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and prostrating himself at his feet,
26 made obeisance. But Peter raised him up, saying, Rise up:
27 I am but a man. Then conversing with him he went in, and
28 finding many assembled he said to them, You know
* Noon, or twelve o’clock.
unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew, to associate with or go to one of another nation: but God hath shewn me, that I ara
29 not to call any man common or unclean. For this cause, when I was sent for, I came without any hesitation. I ask therefore
30 on what account you have sent for me ? Thereupon Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting till this hour, and at
31 the ninth hour praying in my house. And lo! a man stood before me in splendid attire, and said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine acts of benevolence are remembered be-
32 fore God ; send therefore to Joppa for Simon who is surnam- ed Peter. He lodgeth at the house of Simon, a tanner, by
33 the sea side. He will come and speak to thee. Therefore I sent to thee immediately and thou hast done well in coming. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God, to hear all that God hath given thee in charge.
34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said, Of a truth I per-
35 ceive that God is not a respecter of persons; but in every nation he who feareth him and worketh righteousness is ac-
36 ceptable to him. According to the word which he sent to the children of Israel, when he published the glad tidings of
37 peace by Jesus Christ, He is Lord of all. You know the affair which is spread through all Judea, taking its rise from Galilee after the baptism which John proclaimed respecting Jesus— him from Nazareth—how God anointed him with a holy
38 spirit and power. Him who went about doing good, and heal-
39 ing all who were oppressed by the devil; for God was with him, and we are witnesses of all that he did both in the coun-
40 try of the Jews, and in Jerusalem.—Him, whom they slew, suspending him on a cross—even him God raised up the third day, and granted him to become manifest, not to all the
41 people, but to witnesses who were pre-appointed by God—to us who have eaten, and drunk with him after he arose from
42 the dead. And he commanded us to proclaim to the people and testify that he is the one determinatcly pointed out bv God
43 to be the judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness, that every one who believeth in him, shall receive remission of sins bv his name.
M
44 While Peter was yet speaking these words the holy spirit
45 fell on all them who heard this word. Whereupon all the circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the holy spirit was poured out upon the Gen-
46 tiles also. For they heard them speaking in divers languages
47 and magnifying God. Then Peter addressed them saying, Can any one on any account forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the holy spirit in the same
48 manner as even we did ? So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they intreated him to stay some days.
- Now the apostles and the brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.
2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, they of the circumci-
3 sion cavilled at him, saying, Thou hast gone to men who
4 are uncircumcised, and hast eaten with them. Thereupon
5 Peter stated to them the whole affair in order from the beginning, saying, I was praying in the city Joppa, and in a trance I saw a vision, a kind of vessel coming down, like a great sheet let down by the four corners, out of heaven, and it
6 came close to me. On which when I fixed mine eyes, I observed and saw the four footed beasts of the earth, namely
7 the wild beasts and the reptiles, and the birds of the air; and I heard a voice saying to me, Rise, Peter ; kill and eat.
8 But I said, By no means, Lord; For nothing common or
9 unclean hath ever entered my mouth. Thereupon a voice from heaven addressed me a second time, saying, What God
10 hath cleansed, call not thou that common. Now this was done
11 three times, then all were drawn up again into heaven. And lo ! at that instant three men arrived at the house where I was,
12 who were sent to me from Cccsarea. And the spirit commanded me to go with them without any scruple. Now there
13 went with me these six brethren. And when we came to the house of the man, he told us how he had seen in his house, the angel standing and saying to him, Send men to Joppa for
14 Simon, surnamed Peter, who will dictate to thec matters by
15 which thou and all thy household shall be saved. And when I had begun to speak, the holy spirit fell upon them as it did
16 upon us at the beginning. Then I remembered the word of the Lord how he said, John indeed .baptized in water, but ye
17 shall be baptized in a holy spirit. If then God granted the same free gift to them as to us, who believed in the Lord
18 Jesus Christ, who was I, that I should obstruct God? Having heard this they acquiesced and glorified God, saying, God hath then indeed granted to the Gentiles repentance unto life.
19 Now they who had been dispersed by reason of the distress which arose about Stephen, had travelled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none but
20 Jews only. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who went into Antioch and spoke to the Greeks,*
21 proclaiming the glad tidings of the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
22 When the report of this reached the ears of the congregation which was at Jerusalem, they sent forth Barnabas to go as for
23 as Antioch. And when he came and saw the grace of God, he was filled with joy and exhorted them all to adhere to
24 the Lord with a firm determination of heart. Because he was a good man and full of a holy spirit and faith, therefore a con-
25 siderable multitude was added to the Lord. Upon which Barnabas went to Tarsus to seek. Saul. And having found him
26 he brought him to Antioch. And for a whole year they assembled with this congregation, and taught a considerable multitude. And the disciples at Antioch first got the name of Christians.
27 And in those days there came down prophets from Jeru-
28 salem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabus rising up signified by the spirit that there would very soon be a great famine throughout the whole inhabited land, which accord-
29 ingly came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Whereupon the disciples determined, every one according to his abi-
30 lity to send relief to the brethren who dwelt in Judea. And. this they did, sending it to the elders by the hands of Bama.- bas and Saul.
XII. Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his
f I adopt the reading of those manuscripts which have Greet not’ Hellenists.
hands to afflict some of the congregation, and slew with the sword James the brother of John. And as he saw that this
2 pleased the Jews, he proceeded to apprehend Peter also. But
3 as this was during the days of unleavened bread, when he had apprehended him he put him in prison, committing him to
4 the custody of four quaternions of soldiers, intending to bring
5 him out to the people after the passover. So Peter was kept in prison; and there was earnest prayer to God made for him
6 by the congregation. And when Herod was about to bring him forth, on that very night, as Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, being bound with two chains; and the guards before the door were keeping watch, behold an angel of the
7 Lord suddenly appeared, and a light shone in the prison. And touching Peter’s side he roused him up, saying, Arise quickly. Upon which his chains dropped from his hands. Then the au-
8 gel said to him, Gird thyself and put on thy sandals; and when he had done so, then he saith to him, Throw thy mantle around
9 thee and follow me. So going out, he followed him, but did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought
10 he saw a vision. And having passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city, which opened to them of its own accord. So, going out, they proceeded on through one street, and suddenly the angel left him.
11 Then Peter coming to himself, said, Now I know certainly that the Lord hath sent his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the Jews. Then,
12 upon recollection, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, surnamed Mark, where many were assembled and
13 praying. And when Peter knocked at the door of the gateway,
14 a servant maid named Rhodu, went to inquire who was there. But knowing Peter’s voice, she, for joy, did not open the gate,
15 but ran and told that Peter was at the gate. Upon which they said to her, Thou art mad. But she confidently affirmed that it was certainly so: then they said, It is his angel. As Peter
16 continued knocking, they opened the gate, and upon seeing
17 him, were extremely surprised. But he having beckoned to them with his hand to be silent, related to them how the Lord had brought him out of prison, and said, Tell this to James
Vol. iv. c g
and the brethren. Then departing, he went to another place. 18 Now as soon as it was day there was no small disturbance
among the soldiers, What was become of Peter. And Herod X9 having caused search to be made for him, and not finding him,
after examining the guards, he ordered them to be led away
to execution. Then departing from Judea, he went down to
20 Casarea and resided there. Now Herod was meditating a war against the Tyrians and Sidonians; but they with one accord waited on him, and having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, they sued for peace, because their country was
21 subsisted by that of the king. And on a set day Herod arrayed in robes of state and seated on the throne, made a speech to
22 them, upon which the people shouted, It is the voice of a
23 god and not of a man! And instantly an angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory. And being gnawed by worms he died.
24 Still the word of God increased and was multiplied; and
25 Barnabas and Saul, having fully performed their service, had returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John who was
XIII. surnamed Mark. Now there was in the congregation at Antioch, certain prophets and teachers, namely, Barnabas and Symeon called Niger, and Lucius the Cyrenian, and Mana- em, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and
2 Saul. And whilst they were ministering to the Lord, and fasting, the holy spirit said, Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul,
3 for the work to which I have called them. So having fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they dismissed them.
4 They then being sent forth by the holy spirit, went down to Seleucia, and thence sailed to Cyprus. And arriving at Sala-
5 mis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John for their attendant. And having
6 traversed the island till they came to Paphos, they found there
7 a magian, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Barjesus. He was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding, who hud sent for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to
8 hear the word of God. But Elymas the Magian, (for thus his name is translated) set himself against them, endeavouring to
9 divert the proconsul from the belief. Upon which Saul, who is also called Paul, being filled with a holy spirit, and having
10 his eyes fixed upon him, said, O! full of alldeceit and of all wick- edness, son of the devil, enemy of all righteousness; wilt thou
11 not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord! Now therefore behold the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shall be blind and shall nol see ihe sun for a season. And instantly
12 there fell upon him a mist and darkness. And groping about he sought some to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul, upon seeing what was done, believed, being struck with awe at the doctrine concerning the Lord.
13 Now Paul and his company, having taken their departure from Paphos, came to Perga in Pamphylia; but John having
14 withdrawn from them, returned to Jerusalem. They, however, went on from Pcrga and came to Antioch, in Pisidia, and going into the synagogue on the sabbath day, they sat down.
15 And after the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, Men, brethren, if you have any word of consolation to the people, deliver it. Where-
16 upon Paul stood up and beckoning with his hand for attention,
17 said, Men of Israel and ye who fear God, hearken! The God of the people Israel chose our fathers and exalted the people when they sojourned in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm brought them out of it; and for the space of about forty
18 5’ears bore with their behaviour in the wilderness. And having
19 destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he distributed
20 their land among them. And after these things, which took up about four hundred and fifty years, he gave them judges
21 till Samuel the prophet. But from that time they desired a king, and God gave them Saul, the son of Kis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, Forty years. Then having removed him,
22 he raised up for them David to be king, to whom he gave this testimony, ” I have found David the son of Jesse, a man according to my heart, who will execute all my orders.*” Of his
23 seed God hath, according to promise, raised up for Israel a
24 saviour, namely Jesus, before whose appearance John proclaimed a baptism of reformation to all the people of Israel.
25 And as John was fulfilling his course, he said, I am not he
* Sam. 13.14. and Ps. 89. 20.
whom you suppose me to be; but behold he is coming after me, the latchct of whose shoe I am not worthy to untie.
26 Men, brethren, children of the race of Abraham, and those
27 among you, who fear God, to you the word of this salvation is sent. For the inhabitants of Jerusalem and their chiefs, not knowing him, have indeed by condemning him fulfilled the words of the prophets which are read every sabbath day.
28 Though they found no cause of death, they demanded of Pi-
29 late that he should be executed. And when they had accomplished all that was written concerning him, he was taken down from the cross and laid in a tomb. But God raised him
30 from the dead, and for many days he appeared to them who
31 came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are his
32 witnesses to the people. And we proclaim to you the glnd tidings with respect to the promise made to the lathers, That God hath fulfilled it to us their children by raising up Jesus, even
33 as it is written in the second psalm, ” Thou art my son, this
34 day I have begotten thee”-—and that hefiath raised him from the dead never more to return to corruption, as he said, “I will
35 give you the gracious promises to David which arc faithful:* and therefore, in another place, he saith, “Thou wilt not suf-
36 fer thy holy one to see corruption.!” For David indeed, having in his generation answered the purpose of God, went to
37 rest and was laid with his fathers, and saw corruption; but he whom God raised up did not see corruption.
38 Be it known therefore to you, Men, brethren, that by this person remission of sins is proclaimed to you; and that by him
39 every one who believeth is acquitted from all those sins, from which you Could not be acquitted by the law of Moses. Take
40 hoed therefore that what is said in the prophets may not come
41 u :oa you—”Behold ye despisers, and express your amaze and vanish. For I am working a work in your days, which you will not believe, though one tell you.J”
42 And on their going out of the synagogue of the Jews, the Gentiles intreated that these things might be spoken to them,
43 in the interim* till the next babbath. And when the syna-
* Es. 35. 3. f Ps- 16.10. JHabak. I. 5.
gogue broke up, many of the Jews and of the devout prose- lytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and ex-
44 horted them to persevere in the grace of God. And on the
45 next sabbath almost the whole city was assembled to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the crowds they were filled with zeal and contradicted what was spoken by Paul; con-
46 tradicting and reviling. Whereupon Paul and Barnabas with great freedom of speech said, It was necessary that the word of
47 God should be first spoken to you. But since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of this everlasting life, behold we turn to the Gentiles; for thus the Lord hath commanded us, “I have set thee for the light of nations, that thou mayst be for salvation to the remotest parts of the earth.*”
48 Upon hearing this, the Gentiles rejoiced and glorified the
49 word of the Lord; and as many as were fitly disposed for ever, lasting life, believed. And the word of the Lord spread through
50 that whole region. But the Jews stirred up the devout women, even such as were women of rank, and the leading men of the city, and raised a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and
51 expelled them out of their territories. Upon which they having shaken off the dust of their feet againstthem, went to Iconitim.
J2 Now the disciples were filled with joy and a holy spirit,
K.IV. and at Iconium they went in the same manner to the
synagogue of the Jews, and spoke so that a great number both
2 of Jews and Greeks believed. But the disbelieving Jews stir- red up and disaffected the minds of the Gentiles against the
3 brethren. They, however, staid there a considerable time, speaking boldly for the Lord \vho gave attestation to the word of his grace, and granted signs and miracles to be done by
4 their hands. So the multitude of the city were divided, some
5 siding with the Jews, and some with the apostles. But as a violent attempt was going to be made, both by the Gentiles and
6 Jews, with their chiefs, to assault and stone them, they having intelligence of it, fled to the cities of Lycaonia—to Lystra
7 and Derbe, and the region around; and proclaimed the glad tidings there.
* Esaias 49. 6.
8 Now at Lystra there sat a man who had no use of his feet,
9 being a cripple from his birth, who had never walked. This man was listening to Paul speaking, who fixing his eyes upon him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, said with a
10 loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. Upon which he leaped
11 up and walked. When the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, and, in the Lycaonian dialect, said, “The Gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.” And
12 they called Barnabas, Jupiter: and Paul, Mercury; because he
13 was the chief speaker. And the priests of Jupiter’s temple which was before their city, brought bulls with garlands to
14 the gates, and together with the multitude, desired to offer a sacrifice. But the apostles Barnabas and Paul, hearing of this, rent their clothes and ran in among the crowd, crying out and
15 saying, Men, why do ye these things? We are only frail mortals like yourselves, proclaiming to you to turn from these vanities to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth,
16 and the sea, and all the things which are therein; who in the ages
17 past suffered all the nations to walk in their own ways, though at the same time he did not fail to give an evidence of himself, by conferring favours, giving us rain from heaven and fruitful
18 seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. And with such speeches as these, they, with difficulty, restrained the pco-
19 pie from offering them a sacrifice. But there came thither some Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who, having gained over the populace and stoned Paul, dragged him out of the
20 city, supposing him dead. But while the disciples were around him, ne arose and went into the city. And on the morrow he
21 departed with Barnabas to Derbe. And when they had proclaimed the glad tidings in that city, and made a considerable number of disciples, they returned to Lystra, and Iconium,
22 and Antioch, establishing and confirming the souls of the dis-
23 ciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith. And because we must enter into the kingdom of God through many afflictions; they therefore appointed ciders for them in every congregation, and having fasted and prayed, they recom-
24 mended them to the Lord in whom they believed. Then pass-
25 ing through Pisidia, they came to Pamphilia. And having spo-
26 ken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia, and thence sailed to Antioch, from which place they had been delivered up to the grace of God, for the work which they had now accomplished.
27 And on their arrival they assembled the congregation and told them all that God had done with them; and that he had opened the door of faith for the Gentiles.
28 Now when they had continued there a considerable time XV. with the disciples, there came down from Judea some
persons who taught the brethren, “Unless you be circumcised
2 after the manner of Moses, you cannot be saved.” Whereupon, as there arose a dissentkv, and Paul and Barnabas had no small debate with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and some from among themselves, should go up to the apostles and elders at Jerusalem, about this question.
3 They therefore, being forwarded on their journey by the congregation, passed through Phoenicia and Samaria; and by- declaring fully the conversion of the Gentiles, they gave great
4 joy to all the brethren. And when they arrived at Jerusalem they were well received by the congregation, particularly by the apostles and elders, and they gave an account of all that
5 God had done by them. Thereupon some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, rose up and said, that it was necessary to circumcise those, and order them to keep the law of
6 Moses. And the apostles and elders were convened to deli-
7 berate on this matter. And after much debate, Peter arose, and said to them, Men, brethren, you know that a good while ago, God made choice among us that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of these glad tidings and believe.
8 And God who knoweth the heart, bare witness for them, giv-.
9 ing them the holy spirit in the same manner as he did to us; and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their
10 hearts by belief. Now therefore why do ye try God, to put upon the neck of the disciples, a yoke which neither our fall thers nor we are able to bear; but we trust that we shall be saved by the favour of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the same
12 manner as they do. Upon this the multitude were silent and heard Barnabas and Paul, relating all the signs and wonders
13 which God hath done among the Gentiles by them. And when
14 they had done speaking, James answered and said, Men,brethren, hearken to me, Simeon hath related how God first looked down on the Gentiles, to tiflte from among them a
15 people for his name. And with this the words of the prophets
16 agree, as it is written. “After this I will return and rebuild the tabernacle of David which hath fallen—I will rebuild those parts of it which have fallen to decay, and those parts of
17 it which have been demolished, and raise it up again, that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord—even all the nations who are called by my name, saith the Lord who doth all these
18 things.*” To God all his works are known from eternity;
19 therefore it is my judgmc-it not to disquiet those of the Gen-
20 tiles who turn to God; but to enjoin them to abstain from
21 the pollutions of idols, and fornication, and what is strangled, and blood, because from generations of old Moses hath in every city them who preach him, being read in the synagogue every sabbath.
22 It was then determined by the apostles and elders, when they with the whole congregation had chosen chief men from among them, to send with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch, Judas, who is surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among
23 the brethren, by whom they wrote the following letter. ” The apostles and the elders and the brethren, to the brethren from
24 among the Gentiles in Antioch, and Syria and Cilicia, gretting. As we have heard that some who went out from among us have troubled you with discourses, unsettling your minds, saying, You must be circumcised and keep the law, though we gave
25 them no such injunction, we being all of one mind determined that after making a choice, we would send men to you with
26 our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have hazarded their
27 lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: wo have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who by word of mouth will tell you
28 the same things. For it hath seemed good to the holy spirit and to us to lay upon you, over and above thft things abso-
29 lutely necessary, no more- burden than these.—To abstain from things offered to idols, and blood, and what is strangled, and fornication, from which you will do well to keep your-
. selves. Farewell.”
*Amos 9. 11, Sec.
*
30 So they being despatched came to Antioch and assem-
31 bling the multitude, delivered the letter, and when they had
32 read it, they rejoiced for the consolation. And as Judas and Silas were themselves also teachers, they with many dis-
33 courses exhorted the brethren, and established them. And having tarried some time they had leave to depart with peace
34 from the .brethren to the apostles. But Silas thought proper
35 to continue there. Paul also, and Barnabas, continued at Antioch, teaching and publishing with many others the glad tidings of the word of the Lord.
36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, Let us, I pray thee, return and visit our brethren in every city where we have published the word of the Lord, to see how they do.
3-7 And Barnabas advised to take along with them, John sur-
38 named Mark. But Paul did not think it proper to take along with them one who had quitted them in Pamphylia, and had
39 not gone with them to the work. There was therefore a sharp dispute, so that they separated one from the other. And Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus.
40 As for Paul, having chosen Silas and being commended by the brethren to the favour of God, he set out and passed through Syria and Cilicia, establishing the congregations and
XVI. then went down to Derbe and Lystra. And behold there was there a certain disciple, named Timothy, whose
2 mother was a believing Jewess, but his father was a Greek. He
3 was well spokenof by the brethren in Lystra and Iconium. This man Paul wished to go with him. So he took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for
4 they all knew that his father was a Greek. And as they passed through the cities they “delivered to their keeping the deter- minations of the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem.
5* So the congregations were established in the faith, and grew daily more and more numerous.
6 Now when they had passed through Phrygia and Galatia, (having been restrained by the holy spirit from speaking the
7 word in Asia proper) coming towards Mysia, they attempted
8 to go to Bithynia, but the spirit did not permit them. So passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision ap.
9 pfeared to Paul in the night—it was a certain man, a Macedo-,
Vol. iv. H h
i
nian, standing and intrcating him, and saying, Cross over to
10 Macedonia and help us. Therefore as he saw this vision, we immediately endeavoured to go to Macedonia, concluding from it, that the Lord called us to publish the glad tidings to
11 them. So, embarking at Troas, we sailed directly to Samo- thracia, and the next day to Neapolis, and thence to Philippi,
12 which is a city of the first district of Macedonia, a Roman colony. And in this city we continued several days, and on the
13 sabbath day we went out of the city to the river side, where there was an established place of prayer,* and sat down and
14 spoke to the women who had assembled. And a certain woman, named Lydia, a dealer in purple, of the city of Thyati- ra, a worshipper of God, was listening. The Lord had opened her heart to attend to the things which were spoken by Paul.
15 And when she and her household were baptized, she intreat- ed us saying, If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord
16 come and lodge at my house. So she prevailed upon us. And it came to pass, as we were going to the oratory, we were met by a certain female slave who had a spirit of Python, and
17 who brought her masters much gain by divining. This girl, following Paul and us, cried, saying, These men are the ser-
18 vants of the most high God. They are telling us the way of salvation. And this she did for many days. At length Paul, being troubled, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee, in the name of Jesus Christ, to go out of her. And at that in-
19 stant it went out. When her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they laid hold of Paul and Silas and dragged them to the forum, before the magistrates. And having set
20 them before the generals of the army, they said, These men,
21 being Jews, trouble this city of ours exceedingly, and teach customs which it is not lawful for us, who are Romans to re-
22 ceive or practise. Upon this the populace rose up together
23 against them; and the generals ordered them to be stript and beaten with rods. And having inflicted on them many stripe’s, they committed them to prison, charging the jailor to keep
- them safely. He having received such a charge, thrust them
* Literally, a proseucha or oratory.
25 into the inner prison, and secured their feet in the stocks. And about midnight Paul and Silas, having prayed, sung a hymn
26 to God; and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken, and all the doors were instantly opened, and the
27 fetters of all dropped off. Upon which the jailor awaking, and seeing the doors of the prison open, drew his sword and was just going to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had es-
28 caped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself
29 no harm, for we are all here. Thereupon, calling for lights, he ran in, and-being in a tremour, prostrated himself before Paul
30 and Silas, and having brought them out, said, O sirs, What
31 must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy household.
32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all that
33 were in his house. And he taking them that very hour of the night, washed their stripes; and he and all his family were im-
34 mediately baptized. Then conducting them up to his house, he spread a table and rejoiced with all his family for having
35 believed in God. And in the course of the day the generals sent
36 the lictors, saying, Dismiss those men, When the jailor made
37 this report to Paul, The generals have sent that you may be discharged; now, therefore, depart and go in peace; Paul said to them, Having scourged us publicly without a trial, men who are Roman citizens, they have cast us into prison, and now dis-
38 charge us privately! No. Let them come themselves and take us out. When the lictors reported these words to the generals, they were terrified, hearing that they are Romans. So
39 they came and comforted them, and having taken them out, intreated them to leave the city.
40 Now when they came out of prison, they went to Lydia’s, XVII. where seeing the brethren, they comforted them and
departed; and passing through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of
2 the Jews. And according to his custom, Paul went in among them; and for three sabbaths discoursed to them from the
3 scriptures, opening and stating that the Christ was to suffer .and rise from the dead, and that this Jesus whom I announce
4 to you is The Christ. And some of them were convinced,
and associated with Paul and Silas; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks; and of women of distinction not a few.
5 But the disbelieving Jews, affecting zeal, and collecting some ill disposed men of the lowest class, raised a mob and set the city in an uproar; and besetting Jason’s housej sought to bring
6 them out to the people; but not finding them, they dragged Jason and some brethren before the magistrates of the city, crying out, Those men who have turned the world upside
7 down, are come here also; and Jason hath harboured them, though they all act contrary to the decrees of Czesar, saying,
8 There is another king, one Jesus. So they alarmed the muhi-
9 tude and the magistrates, who heard these things; and these having taken security of Jason and the rest, dismissed them.
10 Now the brethren had immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night to Berea, where being arrived, they went into
11 the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were of a more generous disposition than those of Thessalonica. They received the word with all readiness, daily examining the scriptures whe-
12 ther these things were so, and accordingly many of them believed, and of the Grecian women of rank, and of the men not
13 a few. But when the Jews of Thessalonica knew that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea, they came thither
14 also and set the populace in a ferment; upon which the brethren immediately sent away Paul towards the sea. But Silas and
15 Timothy continued there. Now they who attended Paul conducted him to Athens, and having received his orders for Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed, they departed.
16 And while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit within him was greatly troubled, when he saw the city
17 overspread with idols. Therefore he discoursed in the synagogue to the Jews and proselytes, and in the forum daily to
18 them who met him. And while some of the epicurean and stoic philosophers* were conferring with him, some said, “What
* The Epicureans denied a divine Providence, and held the world to be merely the effect of chance, asserting pleasure to be man’s chief good, and limiting his existence to the present state. The Stoics maintained the doctrine of an universal necessity, and proudly exalted their wise men.
would this retailer of scraps say?” And others, “He appeareth to be a proclaimer of strange deities.” Because he proclaimed
19 the glad tidings of Jesus and the resurrection, therefore they took hold of him and brought him to the Areopagus,* say- ing, May we know what this new doctrine is which is spoken
20 by thee. For thou bringest some strange things to our ears.
21 .We wish therefore to know what these things mean. Now all the Athenians, and the foreigners who reside among them, spent their leisure time in nothing else but in telling and hearing
22 news. Paul then being placed in the midst of the Areopagus, said,
Men of Athens, I perceive from every thing I see, that you are exceedingly addicted to the worship of demons. For
23 as I passed along and beheld the objects and instruments of your devotion, I found an altar with this inscription, To The Unknown Gon. Him, therefore whom you worship without
24 knowing him, I announce to you. He is the God who made the world and all the things which are therein. He is the Lord of heaven and earth. He dwelleth not in temples made with hands; nor is he served by the hands of men, as needing any thing.
25 He is the giver of life and breath, and of all things, to all, and
26 hath made of one blood the whole nation of men to inhabit the whole face of the earth, having marked out times previously arranged in order, and the boundaries of their habitation, for
27 them to seek the Lord if haply they might feel, and find him, though he indeed is not far from any one of us. For in him we
28 live and are moved and exist—as some also of your own po-
29 ets have said, “For we his offspring are.” Being therefore the offspring of God, we ought not to imagine the Deity to be like gold, or silver, or stone, wrought by the art and contrivance
30 of man. God indeed having overlooked the ages of this ignorance; now maketh proclamation to all men every where to re-
31 form, because he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world righteously, by a man whom he hath pointed out: of which he hath given assurance to all men, by raising him. from the dead.
* The supreme court at Athens.
32 When they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some
33 made a jest of it; and some said we will hear thee again on
34 this subject. On which Paul went out from among them. But some men of rank adhered to him and believed, among whom was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus; also a woman of rank, named Damaris, and others with them.
XVIII. After this Paul departed from Athens and went to
2 Corinth, where finding a certain Jew, named Aquilas, a native of Pontus, who had lately come from Italy with his wife Pris- cilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart
3 out of Rome, he went to them; and being of the same trade, lived and wrought with them; for they were tentmakcrs.
4 And every sabbath day he discoursed in the synagogue, and
5 conciliated the affections both of Jews and Greeks. But when Silas and Timothy were arrived from Macedonia, Paul was
6 enrapt by the spirit, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is The Christ. And upon their setting themselves against this, and using abusive language, he shook his garments, and said to
7 them, Your blood is on your own head. I am clear. Henceforth I will go to the Gentiles. So having left them, he went to the house of a certain person named Justus, a worshipper of God,
8 whose house was adjoining to the synagogue. Now Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, with all his household, believed in the Lord: and many of the Corinthians, when they heard,
9 believed and were baptized. And in a vision by night, the
10 Lord said to Paul, Be not afraid, but speak, and keep not silence; for I am with thee; and no one shall set upon thee to hurt
11 thee: for I have much people in this city. So he continued there a year and six months, teaching among them the word of God.
12 Now when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with
13 one accord rose against Paul and brought him to the tribunal,
14 saying, This person persuadeth men to worship God, contrary to the law. And when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gal-
.lio said to the Jews, If it were indeed some act of injustice or malicious villainy, I could with reason, O Jews, bear with you.
15 But if it is a question about a word, or names, or your law, you may look to it yourselves; for I will not be a judge of such
16 matters. So he drove them from the tribunal. Then all the
17 Greeks took Sosthenes the ruler of the synagogue, and beat
him before the tribunal. But Gallio did not concern himself in the affair.
18 After this Paul having continued there a considerable time longer, took leave of the brethren and sailed to Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquilas, having shaved his head at Cenchrea, for he had a vow : and touching at Ephcsus he left
19 them there. He indeed having gone to the synagogue dis-
20 coursed to the Jews ; but though they requested him to tarry
21 longer with them he would not consent, but took his leave of them, saying, I must by all means keep the ensuing festival at Jerusalem. But 1 will come back to you again, if God per-
22 mit. So, sailing from Ephesus he arrived at Casarea; and
23 having gone up and saluted the congregation, he went down to Antioch where he spent some time, and then departed and passed successively through Galatia and Phrygia, establishing all the disciples.
24 In the mean while a certain Jew named Apollos, born
25 at Alexandria, an eloquent man, had come to Ephesus. This man being well versed in the scriptures, had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and expounded accurately the passages concerning the Lord,
26 being acquainted only with the baptism of John. And when he began to speak boldly in the synagogue, Aquilas and Priscilla, having heard him, took him home and explained to him
27 more accurately the way of God. And as he was desirous to go to Achaia, the brethren encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to receive him. And being arrived there he by his
28 gift greatly assisted them who had believed, for he strenuously confuted the Jews in public, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus is The Christ.
XIX. Now while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper provinces came to Ephesus, where finding
2 certain disciples he said to them, Did you receive a holy spirit when you believed ? Upon which they said to him, We have
3 not so much as heard that a holy spirit is [received.*] There – upon he said to them, To what then were ye baptized ? And
* The answer is elliptical, and to be filled up with the word received.
4 they said, To the baptism of John. Then Paul said, John indeed baptized the baptism of reformation, telling the people that they should believe in one coming after him, namely in
5 Jesus The Christ. Upon hearing this they were baptized
6 to the name of the Lord Jesus; and Paul having laid his hands on them, the holy spirit came upon them and they spoke
7 with tongues and prophesied. Now they were in all about twelve men.
8 Now having gone to the synagogue he spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and recommending the things con-
9 cerning the kingdom of God. But as some were stubborn disbelievers and continued to revile the way before the multitude, he withdrew from them and separated the disciples,
10 discoursing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. And this he continued to do for the space of two years, so that all the inhabitants of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word
11 of the Lord Jesus. And God wrought extraordinary miracles
12 by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs and aprons were carried from his body to them who were sick, and the diseases were removed from them, and evil spirits went out of them.
13 Upon this some of the strolling Jewish exorcists attempted to name the name of the Lord Jesus, over them who had these evil spirits, saying, ” We adjure you by that Jesus whom
14 Paul proclaimeth” Now there were seven sons of one Sceva,
15 a Jewish chief priest, who did this. Upon which the evil spirit in reply said, Jesus I kno\v, and I have some knowledge of
16 Paul: but who are ye ? Then the man, in whom was the evil spirit, springing upon them, and getting a mastery over them, prevailed against them so that they fled out of his house
17 naked and wounded. And this was known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who dwelt at Ephesus; and fear fell upon them
18 all. And the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many of them who believed came and confessed, and made a
19 public acknowledgment of their deeds. And several of them having practised magical arts, brought their books and burned them publicly, the value of them by computation amounting
20 to fifty thousand pieces of silver. So powerfully did the word of the Lord increase and prevail.
31 Now when these things were accomplished, Paul resolved in his mind, after passing through Macedonia and Achaia to go to Jerusalem, saying, after 1 have been there, I must also
22 see Rome. So having sent forward two of them who attended him, namely Timothy and Erastus, into Macedonia, he him-
523 self tarried some time in Asia. And during that time there
24 was a considerable disturbance about this way. For one Demetrius, a silversmith, a maker of silver shrines of Diana,
25 kept in employ a great number of artists ; and having assembled these and the workmen of like occupation, he said, “Men, you know that on this manufacture dependeth our mainte-
26 nance. And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul by his persuasion hath perverted a vast multitude, saying that they which are made
27 with hands, are not gods. So that not only this occupation of ours is in danger of being brought into disrepute; but the temple also of the great goddess Diana, of .being set at naught; and her majesty destroyed, whom all Asia and the world wor- shippeth.”
28 Upon hearing this and being full of rage they shouted,
29 saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. And the whole city was filled with confusion. And they rushed with one accord into the theatre, dragging along with them Gaius and Aris-
30 tarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s fellow travellers. Upon this Paul had a mind to go to the people, but the disciples
31 did not permit him. And some of the chiefs of Asia also, who were his friends, sent to him and advised him not to venture
32 into the theatre. Now some cried one thing; and some, another. For the congregation was in the utmost confusion, and the greater part did not know for what particular purpose they
33 had convened. But when they had thrust Alexander out of the crowd, the Jews pushing him forward, and Alexander waving his hand wished to make a defence to the people, they
34 knowing that he was a Jew, there was, for about two hours, one continued shout from all, crying out, Great is Diana of
35 the Ephesians. At length the recorder having stilled the crowd, said, Men of Ephesus, who is there who doth not know that the cky of the Ephesians is a humble devotee of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell from Jupiter?
Vol. iv. i i
36 Since these things are incontestable you ought to be quiet, and
37 to do nothing rashly. For you have brought hither these men, who have neither violated things sacred, nor reviled your
38 goddess. If now Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have an action against any one, the courts are open and there are pro-
39 consuls to judge: let them bring their suits. And if you seek any thing in respect to other matters, let it be discussed in a
40 legal assembly of the people. For we indeed are in danger of being called in question for this day’s riot, there being no cause which we can assign for this tumultuous concourse. Having said this, he dismissed the assembly.
- Now this tumult being over, Paul sent for the disciples,
2 and having embraced them, he set out to go to Macedonia. And when he had gone through those parts, and comforted
3 them with many a discourse, he came to Greece, where having spent three months, as an ambush was laid for him by the Jews just as he was on the point of embarking for Syria, he
4 thought it advisable to return through Macedonia. And there accompanied him to Asia, Sopater the Berean; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gains, of Der- be; and Timothy; and the Asiatics, Tychicus, and Trophimus.
5 These having gone before, waited for us at Troas; ajid we, af-
6 ter the days of unleavened bread, set sail from Philippi, and in five days came to them at Troas, where we staid seven days.
T And on the first day of the week when the disciples assembled to break bread, Paul, being about to depart on the morrow, discoursed with them, and lengthened out the discourse till
8 midnight. Now in the upper room where they were assera-
9 bled, there were many lamps. And a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sitting in an open window, bending backwards in a deep sleep, was, while Paul was continuing his discourse, bent quite back with the sleep, and fell from the
10 third story, and was taken up dead. But Paul going down, threw himself upon him, and taking him in his arms, said,
11 Be not troubled, for his life is in him. Then going up again, and having broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them’a considerable time, even till break of day, and so departed.
12 Now when they brought up the lad alive and were not a little comforted, we went before to the ship and sailed to Assos 13 where we were to take in Paul. For so he had ordered, intend-
14 ing himself to go by land. And when he mei us at Assos we
15 took him in and came to Mitylene. And sailing thence we came the next day over against Chios, and on the day following reached Samos. And after stopping at Trogyllium, we came the next day to Miletus. For Paul had determined to
16 sail by Ephesus, that he might not spend time in Asia, for he was earnestly desirous, if it were possible for him, to be at Jc-
17 rusalem on the day of Pentecost. So from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called hither the elders of the congregation. And
18 when they came to him, he said to them,Youknowhowfrom my first coming into Asia, I have been with you all the time, serving
19 the Lord with all humility, and with many tears and trials which
20 befel me by the insidious practices of the Jews—how I have never shrunk from those things which are advantageous—from announcing to you and teaching you publicly and privately,
21 attesting both to Jews and Greeks the turning of the mind to
22 God, and the belief in our Lord Jesus Christ. Now behold I am going up to Jerusalem, bound by the spirit, not knowing
23 the things which shall befal me there, save only that the Holy spirit testifieth in every city, saying, That bonds and afflictions
24 await me. But I make no account of any of these, nor is this life of mine so much my concern as to finish with joy my course—even the office which I have received from the Lord Jesus, to testify the glad tidings of the favour of God. And
25 now behold I know that all you among whom I have gone proclaiming the reign of God, shall no more see my face;
26 therefore I testify to you this day that I am clear from the
27 blood of all men. For I have not shrunk from declaring to
28 you the whole counsel of God. Take heed therefore to yourselves and to the whole flock among which the holy spirit hath made you overseers to tend the congregation of God which
29 he hath purchased with his own blood. For this I know, that after my departure there will enter in among you grievous
50 wolves, not sparing the flock. Yes, even from among yourselves men will start up, speaking perverse things to drawthe disciples
51 after them. Watch therefore, remembering that for the space of three years I did not cease, night nor day, with tears to
i2 warn every one. And now with regard to these things I re-
comtnend you, brethren, to God and to the word of his grace, who is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance
33 among all who are sanctified. I have coveted no man’s silver
34 or gold, or raiment. Even you yourselves know that these ve- ry hands have ministered to my wants, and to the supply of
35 them who were with me. On all occasions I have su