Chapter 22

The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, (3)and said to him, Go forth out of thy country, and from among thy relations, and come hither to a land which I will shew thee[32]. (4)Then he went out from the country of the Chaldeans, and, dwelt in Charran: and from thence, after his father was dead, God removed him as a sojourner into this very country, in which we now dwell. (5)Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not so much as the print of his foot: yet he promised to give it for a possession to him and to his seed after him, when he had no son. (6)Then spake God to him thus, That his seed should sojourn in a foreign land: and that they should enslave it, and grievously afflict it, four hundred years. (7)And the nation by which they shall be enslaved will I judge, said God: and after these things they shall come out, and shall worship me in this place[33]. (8)And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so he begat Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac Jacob, and Jacob the twelve patriarchs. (9)And the patriarchs, envious, sold Joseph into Egypt: yet God was with him, (10)and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom before Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he appointed him governor over Egypt and all his house. (11)Then came a famine upon all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great distress: and our fathers found no provisions. (12)But when Jacob heard that there were provisions in Egypt, he sent our fathers, the first time. (13)And the second time Joseph was made known unto his brethren; and Joseph's family was made known unto Pharaoh. (14)Then sent Joseph, and invited his father Jacob to come to him, and all his kindred, consisting of seventy-five persons. (15)So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, himself, and our fathers, (16)and they removed him to Sychem, and laid him in the sepulchre which Abraham had bought, at a price paid in silver, of the sons of Emmor, the father of Shechem. (17)But as the time of the promise which God had with an oath confirmed unto Abraham drew nigh, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt, (18)until another king arose, who knew not Joseph. (19)This man, forming crafty designs against our nation, grievously treated our fathers, so as to cause them to expose their children, in order to exterminate the race. (20)At which time Moses was born, and was endued with singular beauty from God, who was brought up three months in the house of his father: (21)and when he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter took him home, and brought him up for herself, as a son. (22)And Moses was educated in all the wisdom of Egypt, and was mighty in words and actions. (23)But when he had completed his fortieth year, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. (24)And seeing one of them treated injuriously, he defended him, and executed vengeance for him who had suffered the outrage, smiting the Egyptian. (25)For he thought that his brethren would understand that God by his hand would give them deliverance: but they understood not. (26)And the following day he shewed himself to them as they were fighting, and urged them to peace, saying, My friends, ye are brethren; wherefore do ye ill treat one another? (27)Then he who did his neighbour wrong thrust him from him, saying, Who appointed thee a ruler and a judge over us? (28)Wilt thou kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian yesterday? (29)Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a sojourner in the land of Midian, where he begat two sons.

(30)And when forty years were completed, there appeared to him in the desert of mount Sinai the angel of the Lord, in a flame of fire in a bush. (31)But when Moses saw it, he marvelled at the sight: and as he was drawing nearer to observe it, a voice from the Lord came to him, (32)"I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob[34]." Then Moses trembling, dared not to look farther.

(33)Then the Lord said unto him, "Loose the sandal from thy feet: for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. (34)Attentive I have beheld the evil treatment of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and I am come down to deliver them. And now come hither, I will send thee into Egypt[35]." (35)This very Moses whom they had rejected, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. (36)He brought them forth, after performing miracles and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years. (37)This is the Moses who said unto the children of Israel, "A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up for you from among your brethren, as myself; him shall ye hear[36]." (38)This is he, who was with the church in the wilderness with the angel who spake to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the oracles of life to give unto us: (39)to whom our fathers would not be obedient, but thrust him from them, and turned back in their hearts unto Egypt, (40)saying to Aaron, Make us gods who shall go before us: for this Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what hath happened to him. (41)And they made a calf in those days, and brought a sacrifice for the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.

(42)Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, Have ye offered me slain beasts and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? (43)Yet have ye taken up the tabernacle of Moloc, and the star of your god Remphan, those figures which ye made to pay adoration to them: and I will transport you beyond Babylon[37].

(44)The tabernacle of the testimony was with our fathers in the wilderness, as he that spake to Moses commanded, that he should make it according to the model which he had seen. (45)Which also our fathers having received, brought in with Joshua into the place possessed by the Gentiles, whom God drove out from before the presence of our fathers, unto the days of David; (46)who found favour before God, and sought to procure an habitation for the God of Jacob. (47)But Solomon built an house for him. (48)Though the Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as the prophet saith, (49)"Heaven is my throne, and earth the footstool for my feet: what kind of house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what place is there for my repose? (50)hath not my hand made all these things[38]?"

(51)Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and in ears, ye do always oppose yourselves against the Holy Ghost: as your fathers, so are ye. (52)Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they killed those who before published the tidings of the coming of that Righteous Person; of whom ye have now been the betrayers and murderers: (53)who have received the law through arrangements of angels, yet have not observed it.

(54)Now when they heard these things, they were cut through their hearts as with a saw, and gnashed upon him with their teeth.

(55)But he being full of the Holy Ghost, and looking up stedfastly to heaven, saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; (56)and he said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.

(57)Then they screamed out with a great cry, and stopped their ears, and rushed all together upon him, (58)and dragging him out of the city, stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man, named Saul. (59)And they stoned Stephen, in the act of prayer, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit! (60)Then falling on his knees, he cried with a loud voice, Lord, impute not to them this sin! And thus speaking, fell asleep.

CHAP. VIII.

BUT Saul was delighted with his execution.

Now on that very day commenced a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and all, besides the apostles, were dispersed through the regions of Judea and Samaria.

(2)Then some pious men assembling, carried Stephen to his grave, and made great lamentation over him.

(3)But Saul ravaged the church, entering into the houses, and dragging men and women, cast them into prison.

(4)Those therefore who were dispersed, travelled through the country, preaching the word. (5)But Philip, going down to a city of Samaria, preached Christ unto them. (6)And the multitudes with united minds were very attentive to the things spoken by Philip, when they heard him, and saw the miracles which he did. (7)For the unclean spirits, roaring with great cries, came forth out of many who were possessed: and many who were paralytic and lame were healed. (8)And there was great joy in that city.

(9)But a certain man, named Simon, lived previously in that city, who practised magic, and astonished the nation of Samaria, giving out himself as an extraordinary great personage: (10)to whom all gave heed from the small to the great, saying, This man is the great power of God. (11)And to him they attended, because he had of a considerable time astonished them by his magical tricks. (12)But when they believed Philip, who preached the glad tidings of the things which related to the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptised both men and women. (13)Then Simon also himself believed: and being baptised, he attached himself to Philip, and beholding the signs and great miracles which were performed, he was astonished.

(14)But when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: (15)who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (16)for as yet he had not fallen on any one of them: only they had been baptised into the name of the Lord Jesus. (17)Then they laid their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

(18)Now when Simon saw, that by the imposition of the apostles' hands, the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, (19)saying, Confer on me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay my hands, they may receive the Holy Ghost. (20)But Peter said unto him, May thy silver with thyself go into perdition, because thou hast imagined that the gift of God can be purchased with money. (21)There is for thee neither part nor lot in this word: for thy heart is not right before God. (22)Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray to God, if haply this thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee. (23)For I see that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and the bond of iniquity. (24)Then Simon answering said, Pray ye for me unto the Lord, that none of the things which ye have spoken may come upon me.

(25)Then they, after bearing their testimony, and speaking the word of the Lord, returned towards Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

(26)Now the angel of the Lord spake to Philip, saying, Arise, and go towards the south, on the road which leads down from Jerusalem to Gaza: it is a wilderness. (27)And he arose and went: and lo! an Ethiopian man, an eunuch, a person in power under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasury; he had gone to worship unto Jerusalem, (28)and was returning, and sitting in his chariot, was reading the prophet Isaiah. (29)Then said the Spirit to Philip, Go up, and approach close to that chariot. (30)Then Philip running up to him, heard him reading the prophet Isaiah; and he said, Well! but dost thou understand what thou art reading? (31)He replied, How indeed can I, except some person guide me in the way? And he besought Philip to come up and sit with him. (32)The portion of scripture which he had been reading was this: "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before him who sheareth it is dumb, so he opened not his mouth: (33)in his humiliation his judgment was taken away: but his generation who can describe? for his life was taken away from the earth[39]." (34)Then the eunuch addressing himself to Philip, said, I pray thee, of whom doth the prophet thus speak? of himself, or of some other person? (35)Then Philip opening his mouth, and beginning from that scripture, preached to him Jesus. (36)But as they went on the road, they came to some water: and the eunuch said, Here is water, what forbids my being baptised? (37)And Philip said, If thou believest with the whole heart, it is allowable. Then he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (38)And he bid the carriage stop: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptised him. (39)But when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught up Philip, and the eunuch saw him no more: then he went on his way rejoicing. (40)But Philip found himself at Azotus: and passing through he preached the gospel in all the cities, until he came to Caesarea.

CHAP. IX.

BUT Saul, still breathing out threatenings and murder against the disciples of the Lord, applying to the high-priest, (2)besought of him letters for the synagogues at Damascus, that if he should find any persons of this way, whether men or women, he might bring them in chains to Jerusalem. (3)So advancing on his journey, he was drawing nigh to Damascus: and suddenly there shone around him a light from heaven: (4)and falling on the ground, he heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? (5)Then said he, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou art persecuting: It is difficult for thee to kick against the goads. (6)And trembling and amazed he said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

(7)And the men who travelled with him stood astonished, hearing indeed a voice, but seeing no man. (8)Then Paul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus. (9)And he was three days seeing nothing, and did neither eat nor drink.

(10)Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said unto him in a vision, Ananias! And he said, Here I am, Lord. (11)Then the Lord said to him, Arise, go into the street called Strait, and inquire at the house of Judas for one named Saul a man of Tarsus: for, behold, he is praying, (12)and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming to him, and laying his hand upon him, that he may recover his sight. (13)But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many of this man, how many evils he hath inflicted on thy saints at Jerusalem: (14)and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon thy name. (15)But the Lord said unto him, Go: for this man is an elect vessel for me, to bear my name before nations, and kings, and the children of Israel: (16)for I will shew him how many things he must suffer for my name's sake.

(17)Then went Ananias, and entered into the house; and laying his hands upon him, said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who was seen by thee in the way that thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest recover thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. (18)And directly there fell from his eyes as it were scales: and he recovered sight instantly, and arose, and was baptised. (19)And when he had taken nourishment, he regained his strength. And Saul continued with the disciples who were at Damascus several days. (20)And immediately he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. (21)And all who heard him were amazed, and said, Is not this the man who made havoc at Jerusalem, among those who called on this name? and hither he came for this purpose, that he might carry them in chains unto the chief priests? (22)But Saul was endued with still greater power, and confounded the Jews who dwelt at Damascus, conclusively evincing that this person is the Messiah.

(23)But when many days were fulfilled, the Jews consulted together how to kill him: (24)but their design was discovered to Saul. And they kept guard at the gates of the city day and night, that they might kill him. (25)But the disciples taking him by night, got him off through the wall, letting him down in a basket.

(26)But when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples: and they were all afraid of him, not crediting that he was a disciple. (27)Then Barnabas taking him by the hand, brought him to the apostles, and related to them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how boldly he had preached at Damascus in the name of Jesus. (28)And he was with them coming in, and going out at Jerusalem: (29)and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus. And he talked and disputed with the Grecian proselytes: but they made an attempt to murder him. (30)Then the brethren, when they knew it brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him off to Tarsus.

(31)Then had the churches peace through all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, being edified; and walking in the fear of God, and in the consolation of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

(32)Now it came to pass, as Peter was passing through all parts, that he went down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda. (33)And found there a certain man named AEneas, during six years stretched on a bed, who was paralytic. (34)And Peter said to him, AEneas, Jesus the Messiah maketh thee whole: arise, and make thine own bed. And he arose immediately. (35)And all who dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

(36)But there was at Joppa a woman, a disciple, named Tabitha, (which by interpretation is called Dorcas:) this woman was full of good works and of alms which she did. (37)But it came to pass that in those days she sickened and died: having then washed her, they laid her out in an upper room. (38)And as Lydda was near to Joppa, the disciples hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, entreating him without delay to come over to them. (39)Then Peter arose and went with them. And they carried him, on his arrival, into the upper room: and all the widows stood round him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas had made, whilst she was with them. (40)But Peter putting them all out, fell upon his knees, and prayed; and turning to the body, said, Tabitha, arise! And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. (41)Then he gave her his hand, and raised her up; and calling in the saints and the widows, presented her to them alive. (42)And it was known through all Joppa; and many believed on the Lord. (43)Then it came to pass, that he abode many days at Joppa with one Simon a tanner.

CHAP. X.

NOW there was a man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of the cohort called the Italic, (2)a man of piety, and who feared God with all his house, giving much alms to the people, and praying to God continually. (3)He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming to him, and saying to him, Cornelius. (4)Then looking stedfastly on him, and being terrified, he said, What means this, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. (5)And now send men to Joppa, and inquire for Simon, who is surnamed Peter: (6)he lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is near the sea: this man will tell thee what thou must do. (7)But when the angel departed who spake to Cornelius, he called two of his domestics, and a pious soldier, persons who constantly were in attendance upon him; (8)and relating all things to them, sent them to Joppa.

(9)Then the next morning, as they were on their journey, and drew near to the city, Peter went up to the flat roof to pray about the sixth hour: (10)and he grew very hungry, and desired something to eat: but whilst they were getting it ready, a sacred ecstacy fell upon him. (11)And he saw heaven opened, and there descended to him a certain vessel, as a great sheet with chains at the four corners, and resting upon the earth: (12)in which were all the quadrupeds of the earth, and wild beasts, and reptiles, and birds of the air. (13)And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; slay and eat. (14)But Peter said, By no means, Lord for I have never at any time eaten of any thing common or unclean. (15)And the voice again a second time came to him, What God hath cleansed, call not thou unclean. (16)This was thrice repeated: and the vessel was again taken up into heaven.

(17)But while Peter was perplexed in himself what was meant by the vision which he had seen, then, behold! the men which had been sent by Cornelius having inquired out the house of Simon, stood before the door, (18)and calling, asked if Simon, surnamed Peter, lodged there. (19)But while Peter was musing upon the vision, the Spirit said to him, Lo! three men are inquiring after thee. (20)Arise then, and go down, and go with them, entertaining no doubt, for I have sent them. (21)Then Peter went down to the men who were sent by Cornelius to him; and said, Lo! I am the person that ye ask for: what is the business on which ye are come hither? (22)Then they said, Cornelius a centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report with all the nation of the Jews, has been divinely admonished by a holy angel to send for thee to his house, to hear words from thee.

(23)Then inviting them in, he lodged them there. And the next morning Peter went with them, and some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him. (24)And the next day they entered into Caesarea. Now Cornelius was expecting them, having called together his relations and nearest friends. (25)And as Peter was entering, Cornelius met him, and falling at his feet, paid him homage. (26)But Peter raised him up, saying, Arise; I also myself am a man. (27)And conversing with him, he entered, and found many assembled together.

(28)And he said unto them, Ye know how contrary it is to established usage, for a man who is a Jew to associate with or visit one of another nation; but God hath shewed me to call no man common or unclean. (29)Wherefore also without a word, I came when invited: I beg to know therefore for what purpose ye have sent for me?

(30)Then Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting till this hour; and at the ninth hour I was praying in my house, and, lo! a man stood before me in shining apparel, (31)and said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thy alms are remembered before God. (32)Send therefore to Joppa, and invite Simon, whose surname is Peter, to come to thee; he lodgeth in the house of Simon the tanner, near the sea: who, when he is come will talk with thee. (33)Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast done well in coming. Now therefore are all we here present before God, to hear all things that are given in charge to thee from God.