VIII. CHAP of what ye have said may come tizes an officer of 26 the queen of Ethi 1 1 IX. eunuch saith, "See, here is water, CHAP, why may I not be baptized ?” Then he ordered the chariot to 38 stop, and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and villa-Philip baptized him. Now, after 39 they came up out of the water, the spirit of the Lord took Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but continued his way re IX. Now Saul, still breathing out CHAP. him; and he fell on the earth, and 4 Now, an angel of the Lord spake Philip bap- unto Philip, saying, "Arise, and go toward the south, to the lonely road, which leadeth down from Je-joicing. So Philip came to Azotus, 40 rusalem to Gaza. And he arose and and preached the gospel in all the opia. went; when, behold! there was cities which he passed through, 27 an Ethiopian, an eunuch of great until he came to Cesarea. authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, and entrusted with all her treasure, and who had 28 been to worship at Jerusalem; and he was returning, and was sitting in his chariot, reading the prophet 29 Isaiah. Then the spirit said to Philip, "Go up to that chariot." 30 So Philip ran up, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said unto him, "Dost thou under-heaven suddenly flashed around stand what thou art reading ?" 31 But he answered, "How can I, except some one direct me?" And he desired Philip to get up and sit 32 with him. Now, the part of scrip-art thou, Sir?" and the voice anture, which he was reading, was this, "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb is dumb before its shearer, so he opened not 33 his mouth. In his humiliation, the just judgment of him was taken away and who can describe the wickedness of his generation? For his life was cut off from the earth." 34 Then the eunuch said unto Philip, "I pray thee, of whom doth the prophet say this? of himself, or of 35 some other man?" Upon this, Philip opened his mouth, and began from this part of scripture to 36 preach unto him Jesus. Now, as they were going along the road, they came to some water, and the Isaiah liii. 7. swered, "I am Jesus, whom thou art persecuting. But rise up, and 6 go into the city, and it shall be told thee, what thou must do." Now his fellow-travellers remained 7 speechless, hearing the sound, but seeing no one. Then Saul arose 8 from the earth, and opened his eyes, but could see nothing, and his companions led him by the hand to Damascus ; and he conti- 9 nued without sight three days and three nights, and neither ate, nor drank. Now, there was a certain disci- 10 ple at Damascus, named Ananias, unto whom the Lord had said in a vision, "Ananias ;" and he said, lip would serve to confirm the eunuch in the But not the words, see Acts xxiii, 9. IX. IX. chief priests!" But Saul gained CHAP. from Da HAP. "Behold, here am I, Lord." Then And after many days the Jews 23 design was known to Saul. Then the apostles the disciples took him, and let him to Tarsus. down by the wall at night, in a 25 is 17 Then Ananias departed and entered into the house, and putting his hands on Saul, said, "Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, who appeared to thee on the road as thou camest hither, hath sent me that thou mightest recover thy sight, and be filled with the holy 18 spirit.' diffi Now, when Saul had been in be- Damascus with the disciples some by days, he declared in the synasci- gogues, that Jesus is the son of God; at which all who heard him 21 were greatly amazed, and said, "Is not this he who made havoc at Jerusalein, of those who call themselves by this name? and lo! he is come hither for the purpose of carrying them bound to the 2 Now, as Peter was passing 32 through all the country, he came Peter cures a paralytic down also to the saints that dwelt at Lydda, at Lydda, where he met with a certain man,named Eneas, who had kept 33 his bed eight years, being afflicted with a palsy. And Peter said unto 34 him, "Eneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee well, arise and make thy bed." And he arose immediately, and all 35 the inhabitants of 3 Lydda and3 Sa perity and success. 8 3 Two towns in the tribe of Ephraim. and re stores a dead woman at Joppa. saw him. X. "Thy prayers, and thy alms have CHAP. sion. 36 Moreover, there was among the Now, on the morrow, whilst 9 1 CHAP. X. directed by an angel to send for Peter. they were making ready, he fell 11 messen Now, there was a certain man in Cesarea, named Cornelius, a cenCornelius turion of the band called the 1 Italian band, a religious man and a Gentile, who worshipped God Now, as Peter was doubting, af- 17 with all his family, who likewise ter he had come to himself, what He accom gave much alms to the people, and could be the meaning of this vision, panies the made a constant practice of praying which he had seen, behold! the gers from 3 unto God. He saw plainly in a men who were sent from Corneli- Cornelius vision, about the ninth hour of the us had enquired out Simon's house, to Cesarea day, an angel of God coming in un- and were come up to the porch, to him, and saying. "Cornelius" and asking whether Simon, who 18 4 But he, looking stedfastly at the was surnamed Peter, lodged there? angel, and being affrighted, said, So while Peter was thinking on the 19 What is the matter, Sir?" vision, the spirit said unto him, And the angel said unto him," Behold! three men are asking Consisting mostly of Italian soldiers. X. : So I 33 X. whose surname is Peter, who lodg- CHAP. short ac CHAP. for thee. Arise, therefore, get thee down, and go with them without 21 scruple; for I sent them.' Then Peter went down to the men, and said, "Behold! I am he, whom ye seek, for what cause are ye come?" 22 And they said, "Cornelius a centurion, a righteous man, and a Gentile who worshippeth God, and is well spoken of by all the nation Then Peter opened his mouth, 34 of the Jews, was warned from God and said, "Of a truth I perceive gives a by an holy angel, to send for thee that God is no respecter of persons; count of to his house, that he may hear but in every nation, he who fear- Jesus and 23 what thou hast to say." Then Pe- eth him, and worketh righteousness, his reliter called them in, and lodged is accepted by him. That doctrine gion; them and on the morrow he went which God sent to the children of 36 with them; and some of the bre- Israel, when he delivered to them thren at Joppa accompanied him. the glad tidings of peace by Jesus 24 And the next day they came unto Christ, belongeth equally to all. Cesarea, and Cornelius was expect-For ye know that affair of Jesus 37 ing them, and had called together of Nazareth, which took place his kinsmen and near friends. throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; how God 38 anointed this Jesus with a holy spirit, and with power, and how he went through the country doing good, and curing all who were oppressed by the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses 39 of all those things which he did, both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem. Him indeed they 40 slew, by hanging him on a cross; but this very man God raised up to life on the third day, and appointed to show himself, not to all the people, but to witnesses whom 41 God chose before, even to us, who ate and drank with him after his and con 25 1 And as Peter entered, Cornelius has an in- met him, and fell at his feet, and terview, did him obeisance. But Peter raised verses with him up, and said, "Rise up, for I Cornelius; myself am but a man.' And he 27 went in, talking with Cornelius, and found much company there, 28 and said unto them, "Ye know it is unlawful for a Jew to keep company with, or to come near to one of another nation: God, however, hath directed me to esteem no one 29 unholy or unclean. And therefore I came, when I was sent for, without objecting, and wish to know on what account ye sent for me." 30 Then Cornelius said, "Four days ago I was fasting until this hour, and at the ninth hour, I was pray-resurrection from the dead. And 42 ing in my house, when, behold a God commanded that we should. man stood before me in white rai- preach, and give earnest assurance 31 ment, and said, Cornelius, thy to the people, that it is he, who is prayer is heard; and thy alms are ordained by God to be the judge 32 remembered before God. Send of the living and the dead. To 43 therefore to Joppa, to fetch Simon, him many of the prophets bear 1 He thought that Cornelius took him for an angel. 3 To make a striking distinction between those who should live to God by obeving the A supposed malignant inflicter of dis-gospel, and such as should still continue eases, and bodily infirmities. dead in trespasses and sins. XI. XI. CHAP. testimony, that through his name | esteem thou not unclean.' Now CHAP. every believer in him will receive when this had been done three remission of sins." times, every thing was drawn up 10 again into heaven. 44 tizes Cornelius, and had re ceived the rit. While Peter was yet speakand bap- ing, the holy spirit fell upon all who were listening to his his friends, words. And the believers of the after they circumcision, who had come with Peter, were astonished that the gift holy spi- of the holy spirit was poured out on the Gentiles also; for they heard 46 them speaking in different lan47 guages, and magnifying God. Then Peter said, "Can any one forbid water, that these who have received the holy spirit should not be 48 baptized as well as we?" So he directed them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they besought him to stay with them some CHAP. conduct, days more. agreea God. "And behold! immediately three 11 John indeed baptized with water, "Then Now the apostles and brethren XL in Judea heard, that the Gentiles Peter being also had received the word of God. accused of So when Peter went up to Jerusahaving done wrong, salem, they of the circumcision justifies his questioned him, saying, " Didst thou not go into the house of uncircumcised men, and eat with 4 them?" Then Peter began, and related the matter to them in order, 5 saying, "Whilst I was praying in the city of Joppa, during a trance I saw a vision, somewhat descend- Now they who had been scat- 19 ing like a great sheet from heaven, tered abroad upon the persecution let down by four strings, and occasioned by Saul, travelled as far 6 reaching to me. Upon which, as Phenicia and Cyprus, and 'Anwhen I looked earnestly, I saw tioch, preaching the word to Jews four-footed creatures of the earth, only. But some of them, men of 20 7 and wild beasts, and creeping things, Cyprus and Cyrene went to Anand fowls of the air. And I heard tioch, and preached the gospel of 21 a voice saying, Arise, Peter, slay the Lord Jesus to the Greeks. and eat.' But I said, By no And the hand of the Lord was 8 means, Sir; for nothing common with them, so that a great numnor unclean hath ever entered into ber of people believed, and turn9 my mouth.' Then the voice in ed to the Lord. Then the re- 22 answer said a second time from port of these things reached the heaven, What God hath purified, ears of the church in Jerusalem, 6 The capital of Syria. 2 3 His power enabled them to work mi ? Or uncircumcised Gentiles, as Peter racles. had done at Cesarea. |