Part 34

Simon said, "Thou good king, thou understandest not the plot of these two men against me. I am the Truth, but these thwart me. Command now a high tower to be raised, that I may ascend it; for my angels will not come to me on earth among sinful men: and I will ascend to my father, and I will command my angels to fetch thee to my kingdom." Nero then said, "I will see if thou fulfillest these promises by deeds;" and then bade the tower be raised with great haste on the smooth field, and commanded all his people to come together to this spectacle. The magician then ascended the tower before all the people, and with outstretched arms began to fly in the air.

Paul said to Peter, "Brother, thou wast chosen of God before me, to thee it is fitting that thou cast down this minister of the devil with thy prayers; and I will also bend my knees to that prayer." Peter then looked towards the flying magician, thus saying, "I conjure you, accursed spirits, in the name of Christ, to forsake the magician whom ye bear betwixt you;" and the devils instantly forsook him, and he falling brake into four pieces. The four pieces clave to four stones, which are for witness of the apostolic triumph to this day. Peter's patience allowed the hellish fiends to bear him somewhile up through the air, that in his fall he might descend the more violently; and that he, who menacingly a little before would fly with devilish wings, might suddenly lose his footing. It was befitting him to be raised up on high, that, in the sight of all the people, falling down, he might seek the earth.

Nero then commanded Peter and Paul to be held in bonds, and the pieces of Simon's carcase to be guarded by a watch: {383} he weened that he could arise from death on the third day. Peter said, "This Simon will not be requickened before the general resurrection, but he is condemned to everlasting torments." Then God's adversary, Nero, with the counsel of his chief officer Agrippa, commanded Paul to be beheaded, and Peter hanged on a cross. Paul then, at the executioner's command, bowed his neck under the sword's edge, and Peter ascended the cross. While he was being led to the cross, he said to the executioners, "I beseech you, turn my head down, and stretch my feet towards heaven: I am not worthy to hang as my Lord. He descended from heaven for the redemption of the world, and therefore were his feet turned downwards. He now calls me to his kingdom; turn therefore my foot-soles to the heavenly way." And the executioners granted him this.

Then would the christian people slay the emperor, but Peter stilled them with these words: "My Lord a few days ago manifested to me that I should follow his footsteps with this suffering: now, my children, hinder not my way. My feet are now turned to the heavenly life. Rejoice with me; now to-day I shall receive the reward of my tribulation." He was then praying his Lord with these words: "My Saviour, I commit to thee thy sheep, which thou didst entrust to me: they will not lack a shepherd when they have thee." And with these words he gave up his ghost.

Together they went, Peter and Paul, on this day, triumphant to the heavenly dwelling, in the six and thirtieth year after Christ's passion, with whom they continue to eternity. Igitur Hieronymus et quique alii auctores testantur, quod in una die simul Petrus et Paulus martyrizati sunt.

Immediately after their passion there came beauteous men, and unknown to all the people: they said that they came from Jerusalem, that they might bury the bodies of the apostles; and so did with great honour, and said to the people, that {385} they might greatly rejoice at having such patrons in their proximity.

Know ye also that this worst of kings, Nero, could not hold his realm after the death of these apostles. It befell that all the people together of the cruel emperor hated him, so that they resolved unanimously to bind and scourge him to death. When Nero heard of the people's counsel he was mortally afraid, and hastened in flight to the wood. Then the rumour sprang up that he continued so long in the wood, in cold and hunger, until wolves tore him in pieces.

It happened after that, that Greeks seized the bodies of the apostles, and would take them with them eastward. There then was suddenly a great earthquake, and the Roman people hastened thither, and rescued the bodies, in the place which is called the Catacombs, and they preserved them there a year and a half, until the places were built in which they were afterwards laid, with glory and hymns. It is known among all nations that many wonders happened at the tombs of those apostles, through permission of Jesus, to whom be glory and praise ever to eternity. Amen.

* * * * *

II. KA[=L]. JUL.

NATALE S[=CI] PAULI APOSTOLI.

Godes geladhung wurdhadh thisne daeg dham maeran apostole PAULE to wurdhmynte, fordham dhe he is gecweden ealra dheoda l['a]reow: thurh sodhfaeste lare waes dheah-hwaedhere his martyrd['o]m samod mid dham eadigan Petre gefremmed. H['e] waes fram cildh['a]de on dhaere ealdan ['ae] getogen, and mid micelre gecnyrdnysse on dhaere begriwen waes. Aefter Cristes dhrowunge, dhadha se sodha geleafa aspr['a]ng thurh dhaera apostola bodunge, dha ehte he cristenra manna thurh his nytennysse, and sette on cwearterne, and eac waes on gedhafunge aet dhaes forman cydheres {386} Stephanes slege: nis dheah-hwaedhere be him geraed, thaet h['e] handlinga aenigne man acwealde.

"He nam dha gewrit aet dham ealdor-biscopum to dhaere byrig Damascum, thaet h['e] moste gebindan dha cristenan dhe h['e] on dhaere byrig gemette, and gelaedan to Hierusalem. Tha gelamp hit on tham sidhe thaet him com faerlice to micel leoht, and hine astrehte to eordhan, and he gehyrde stemne ufan thus cwedhende, Saule, Saule, hw['i] ehtst dhu m['i]n? Yfel bidh dhe sylfum thaet dhu spurne ongean dha g['a]de. He dha mid micelre fyrhte andwyrde thaere stemne, Hwaet eart dhu, leof Hlaford? Him andwyrde seo clypung thaere godcundan stemne, Ic eom se Haelend the dhu ehtst: ac ar['i]s nu, and far fordh to dhaere byrig; thaer dhe bidh ges['ae]d hwaet dhe gedafenige to donne. H['e] ar['a]s dha, ablendum eagum, and his geferan hine swa blindne to dhaere byrig gelaeddon. And he dhaer andbidigende ne onbyrigde aetes ne waetes binnan dhreora daga faece."

"Waes dha sum Godes dhegen binnan dhaere byrig, his nama waes Annan['i]as, to dham spraec Drihten dhysum wordum, Annan['i]a, ar['i]s, and gecum to minum dheowan Saulum, se is biddende minre miltsunge mid eornestum mode. He andwyrde dhaere drihtenlican stemne, Min Haelend, hu maeg ic hine gesprecan, sedhe is ehtere dhinra halgena, dhurh mihte dhaera ealdor-biscopa? Drihten cwaedh, Far swa ic dhe saede, fordhan dhe h['e] is me gecoren faetels, thaet h['e] tobere minne naman dheodum, and cynegum, and Israhela bearnum; and he sceal fela dhrowian for minum naman. Annan['i]as dha becom to dham gecorenan cempan, and sette his handa him on-uppan mid thisre gretinge, Saule, min brodhor, se Haelend, the dhe be wege gespraec, sende me widh dh['i]n, thaet thu geseo, and mid tham Halgan Gaste gefylled sy. Tha, mid dhisum wordum, feollon swylce fylmena of his eagum, and he dhaerrihte gesihdhe underfeng, and to fulluhte beah. Wunode dha sume feawa daga mid tham Godes dheowum binnan dhaere byrig, and mid micelre bylde tham Iudeiscum bodade, thaet Crist, dhe h['i] widhsocon, is dhaes Aelmihtigan Godes Sunu. H['i] wurdon swidhlice {388} ablicgede, and cwaedon, La h['u], ne is dhes se waelhreowa ehtere cristenra manna: h['u]meta bodadh he Cristes geleafan? Saulus sodhlice micclum swydhrode, and dha Iudeiscan gescende, mid anraednysse sedhende, thaet Crist is Godes Sunu."

"Hwaet dha, aefter manegum dagum gereonodon dha Iudeiscan, h['u] h['i] dhone Godes cempan acwellan sceoldon, and setton dha weardas to aelcum geate dhaere ceastre. Paulus ongeat heora syrwunge, and dha cristenan hine genamon, and on anre wilian aleton ofer dhone weall. And he ferde ongean to Hierusalem, and hine gecudhlaehte to dham halgan heape Cristes hiredes, and him cydde h['u] se Haelend hine of heofenum gespraec. Sydhdhan, aefter sumum fyrste, com clypung of dham Halgan Gaste to dham geleaffullan werode, thus cwedhende, Asendadh Paulum and Barnaban to dham weorce dhe ic h['i] gecoren haebbe. Se halga heap dha, be Godes haese and gecorennysse, h['i] asendon to laerenne eallum leodscipum be Cristes to-cyme for middangeardes alysednysse."

"Barnabas waes dha Paules gefera aet dhaere bodunge to langum fyrste. Dha aet nextan weardh him gedhuht thaet hi ontwa ferdon, and swa dydon. Paulus weardh tha afylled and gefrefrod mid thaes Halgan Gastes gife, and ferde to manegum leodscipum, sawende Godes saed. On sumere byrig he waes twelf monadh, on sumere twa gear, on sumere dhreo, and gesette biscopas, and maesse-preostas, and Godes dheowas; ferde sidhdhan fordh to odhrum leodscipe, and dyde swa gelice. Asende thonne eft ongean aerend-gewritu to dham geleaffullum dhe he aer taehte, and h['i] swa mid tham gewritum tihte and getrymde to lifes wege."

We willadh nu mid sumere scortre trahtnunge thas raedinge oferyrnan, and geopenian, gif heo hwaet digles on hyre haebbende sy. Paulus ehte cristenra manna, na mid nidhe, swa swa dha Iudeiscan dydon, ac he waes midspreca and bewerigend thaere ealdan ['ae] mid micelre anraednysse: wende thaet Cristes geleafa waere widherwinna dhaere ealdan gesetnysse: ac se Haelend dhe gesette dha ealdan ['ae] mid mislicum {390} getacnungum, se ylca eft on his andweardnysse h['i] awende to sodhfaestnysse aefter gastlicre getacnunge. Tha nyste Paulus dha gastlican getacnunge dhaere ['ae], and waes fordhi hyre forespreca, and ehtere Cristes geleafan. God Aelmihtig, the ealle dhing w['a]t, geseah his gedhanc, thaet h['e] ne ehte geleaffulra manna dhurh andan, ac dhurh ware dhaere ealdan ['ae], and hine dha gespraec of heofonum, dhus cwedhende, "Saule, hw['i] ehtst dhu m['i]n? Ic eom seo Sodhfaestnys dhe dhu werast; geswic dhaere ehtnysse: derigendlic bidh dhe thaet thu spurne ongean tha g['a]de. Gif se oxa spyrndh ongean dha g['a]de, hit deredh him sylfum; swa eac hearmadh the dhin gewinn togeanes me." He cwaedh, "Hw['i] ehtst dhu m['i]n?" fordhan dhe he is cristenra manna heafod, and besargadh swa hwaet swa his lima on eordhan dhrowiadh, swa swa he dhurh his witegan cwaedh, "Se dhe eow hrepadh, hit me bidh swa egle swylce he hreppe dha seo mines eagan." He weardh astreht, thus cwedhende, "Hwaet eart dhu, Hlaford?" His modignes weardh astreht, and seo sodhe eadmodnys weardh on him araered. He feoll unrihtwis, and weardh araered rihtwis. Feallende he forleas lichamlice gesihdhe, arisende he underfeng his modes onlihtinge. Thry dagas he wunode butan gesihdhe, fordhan dhe he widhs['o]c Cristes aerist on dham dhriddan daege.

Annanias is gereht, on Hebreiscum gereorde, 'sc['e]p.' Thaet bilewite sc['e]p dha gefullode dhone arleasan Saulum, and worhte hine arfaestne Paulum. He gefullode dhone wulf and geworhte to lambe. He awende his naman mid dheawum; and waes dha sodhfaest bydel Godes geladhunge, sedhe aer mid redhre ehtnysse hi geswencte. He wolde forfleon syrewunge Iudeiscre dheode, and gedhafode thaet hine man on anre wilian ofer dhone weall nydher al['e]t: na thaet h['e] nolde for Cristes geleafan deadh throwian, ac fordhi he forfleah dhone ungeripedan deadh, fordhan dhe he sceolde aerest menigne mann mid his micclum wisdome to Gode gestrynan, and sydhdhan mid micelre gedhincdhe to martyrdome his swuran astreccan. Micele maran witu he dhrowode sidhdhan for Cristes naman, dhonne he ['ae]r his gecyrrednysse {392} cristenum mannum gebude. Saulus se arleasa besw['a]ng dha cristenan, ac aefter dhaere gecyrrednysse waes se arfaesta Paulus for Cristes naman oft beswungen. Aene h['e] waes gestaened odh deadh, swa thaet dha ehteras hine for deadne leton, ac dhaes on merigen h['e] ar['a]s, and ferde ymbe his bodunge. He waes gelomlice on mycelre frecednysse, aegdher ge on s['ae] ge on l['a]nde, on westene, betwux sceadhum, on hungre and on dhurste, and on manegum waeccum, on cyle, and on naecednysse, and on manegum cwearternum: swa h['e] onette mid thaere bodunge, swylce h['e] eal mennisc to Godes r['i]ce gebringan wolde: aegdher ge mid l['a]re, ge mid gebedum, ge mid gewritum h['e] symle tihte to Godes willan. He waes gelaed to heofonan odh dha dhriddan fleringe, and thaer h['e] geseh and gehyrde Godes digelnysse, dha h['e] ne moste nanum men cydhan. H['e] besargode mid wope odhra manna synna, and eallum geleaffullum h['e] aeteowde faederlice lufe. Mid his hand-craefte he teolode his and his geferena fordhdaeda, and dhaer-to-eacan nis nan dhing tocnawen on sodhre eawfaestnysse thaet his lareowdom ne gestadhelode. Tha odhre apostoli, be Godes haese, leofodon be heora l['a]re unpleolice; ac dheah-hwaedhere Paulus ana, sedhe waes on woruld-craefte teld-wyrhta, nolde dha alyfdan bigleofan onf['o]n, ac mid agenre teolunge his and his geferena neode foresceawode. His l['a]ra and his drohtnunga sind ['u]s unasmeagendlice, ac se bidh gesaelig the his mynegungum mid gecneordnysse gehyrsumadh.

EUANGELIUM.

Dixit Simon Petrus ad Iesum: et reliqua.

"He forl['e]t ealle woruld-dhing, and dham Haelende anum folgode," swa swa dhis godspel cwydh, dhe ge n['u] aet dhisre dhenunge gehyrdon.

"On dhaere t['i]de cwaedh Petrus se apostol to dham Haelende, Efne we forleton ealle woruld-dhing, and dhe ['a]num fyligadh: hwaet dest dhu us thaes to leane?" et reliqua.

Micel truwa hwearftlode on Petres heortan: he ['a]na spraec {394} for ealne dhone heap, "We forleton ealle dhing." Hwaet forlet Petrus? He waes fiscere, and mid dham craefte his teolode, and dheah h['e] spraec mid micelre bylde, "We forleton ealle dhing." Ac micel he forl['e]t, and his gebrodhru, dhadha h['i] forleton dhone willan to agenne. Theah hw['a] forlaete micele aehta, and ne forlaet dha gitsunge, ne forlaet he ealle dhing. Petrus forlet lytle dhing, scripp and net, ac he forlet ealle dhing, dhadha he, for Godes lufon, nan dhing habban nolde. He cwaedh, "We fyligadh dhe." Nis na fulfremedlic fela aehta to forlaetenne, buton he Gode folgige. Sodhlice dha haedhenan udhwitan fela dhinga forleton, swa swa dyde Socrates, sedhe ealle his aehta behwyrfde widh anum gyldenum wecge, and sydhdhan awearp dhone wecg on w['i]dre s['ae], thaet seo gitsung dhaera aehta his willan ne hr['e]mde, and abrude fram dhaere woruldlican lare dhe he lufode: ac hit ne fremede him swa ged['o]n, fordhan dhe he ne fyligde Gode, ac his agenum willan, and fordhi naefde dha heofenlican edlean mid tham apostolum, the ealle woruld-dhing forsawon for Cristes lufon, and mid gehyrsumnysse him fyligdon.

Petrus dha befr['a]n, "Hwaet sceal us getimian? We dydon swa swa dhu us hete, hwaet dest dhu us to edleane? Se Haelend andwyrde, Sodh ic eow secge, thaet ge dhe me fyligadh sceolon sittan ofer twelf d['o]msetl on dhaere edcynninge, dhonne ic sitte on setle mines maegendhrymmes; and ge dhonne demadh twelf Israhela maegdhum." Edcynninge he het thaet gemaenelice aerist, on dham beodh ure lichaman ge-edcynnede to unbrosnunge, thaet is to ecum dhingum. Tuwa we beodh on dhisum life acennede: seo forme acennednys is flaesclic, of faeder and of meder; seo odher acennednys is gastlic, dhonne we beodh ge-edcennede on dham halgan fulluhte, on dham us beodh ealle synna forgyfene, dhurh dhaes Halgan Gastes gife. Seo dhridde acennednys bidh on dham gemaenelicum aeriste, on dham beodh ure lichaman ge-edcennede to unbrosnigendlicum lichaman.

On dham aeriste sittadh tha twelf apostoli mid Criste on heora {396} domsetlum, and demadh tham twelf maeigdhum Israhela dheode. This twelffealde getel haefdh micele getacnunge. Gif dha twelf maegdha ['a]na beodh gedemede aet dham micclum dome, hwaet dedh thonne seo dhreotteodhe maeigdh, Leui? Hwaet dodh ealle dheoda middangeardes? Wenst dhu thaet h['i] beodh asyndrode fram dham dome? Ac dhis twelffealde getel is geset for eallum mancynne ealles ymbhwyrftes, for dhaere fulfremednysse his getacnunge. Twelf tida beodh on dham daege, and twelf mondhas on geare; twelf heahfaederas sind, twelf witegan, twelf apostoli; and dhis getel haefdh maran getacnunge dhonne dha ungelaeredan undergitan magon. Is nu fordhi mid dhisum twelffealdum getele ealles middangeardes ymbhwyrft getacnod.

Tha apostoli and ealle dha gecorenan dhe him geefenlaehton beodh deman on dham micclum daege mid Criste. Thaer beodh feower werod aet dham dome, twa gecorenra manna, and twa widhercorenra. Thaet forme werod bidh thaera apostola and heora efenlaecendra, tha dhe ealle woruld-dhing for Godes naman forleton: h['i] beodh dha demeras, and him ne bidh nan d['o]m gedemed. Odher endebyrdnys bidh geleaffulra woruld-manna: him bidh d['o]m gesett, swa thaet hi beodh asyndrede fram gemanan dhaera widhercorenra, thus cwedhendum Drihtne, "Cumadh to me, ge gebletsode mines Faeder, and onfodh thaet r['i]ce dhe eow is gegearcod fram frymdhe middangeardes." An endebyrdnys bidh thaera widhercorenra, tha the cidhdhe haefdon to Gode, ac h['i] ne beeodon heora geleafan mid Godes bebodum: dhas beodh fordemede. Odher endebyrdnys bidh thaera haedhenra manna, the nane cydhdhe to Gode naefdon: thisum bidh gelaest se apostolica cwyde, "Dha dhe butan Godes ['ae] syngodon, h['i] eac losiadh butan aelcere ['ae]." To dhisum twam endebyrdnyssum cwedh thonne se rihtwisa Dema, "Gewitadh fram me, ge awyrigedan, into dham ecum fyre, the is gegearcod deofle and his awyrgedum gastum."

Thaet godspel cwydh fordh gyt, "Aelc dhaera dhe forlaet, for {398} minum naman, faeder odhdhe moder, gebrodhru odhdhe geswystru, w['i]f odhdhe bearn, land odhdhe gebytlu, be hundfealdum him bidh forgolden, and he haefdh dhaer-to-eacan thaet ece l['i]f." Hundfeald getel is fulfremed, and se dhe forlaet dha ateorigendlican dhing for Godes naman, he underfehdh tha gastlican mede be hundfealdum aet Gode. Dhes cwyde belimpdh swydhe to munuch['a]des mannum, dha dhe for heofenan r['i]ces myrhdhe forlaetadh faeder, and moder, and flaesclice siblingas. H['i] underfodh manega gastlice faederas and gastlice gebrodhru, fordhan dhe ealle thaes h['a]des menn, dhe regollice lybbadh, beodh him to faederum and to gebrodhrum getealde, and thaer-to-eacan h['i] beodh mid edleane thaes ecan lifes gewelgode. Tha dhe ealle woruld-dhing be Godes haese forseodh, and on gemaenum dhingum bigwiste habbadh, h['i] beodh fulfremede, and to dham apostolum geendebyrde. Dha odhre dhe dhas gedhincdhe nabbadh, thaet hi ealle heora aehta samod forlaetan magon, h['i] d['o]n thonne dhone dael for Godes naman dhe him to onhagige, and him bidh be hundfealdum ['e]celice geleanod swa hwaet swa h['i] be anfealdum hwilwendlice daeladh.

Micel tod['a]l is betwux tham gecyrredum mannum: sume h['i] geefenlaecadh tham apostolum, sume h['i] geefenlaecadh Iudan, Cristes bel['ae]wan, sume Annanian and Saphiran, sume Giezi. Tha dhe ealle gewitendlice dhing to dhaera apostola efenlaecunge forseodh, for intingan thaes ['e]can lifes, h['i] habbadh l['o]f and dha ['e]can edlean mid Cristes apostolum. Se dhe betwux munecum drohtnigende, on mynstres aehtum mid f['a]cne swicadh, he bidh Iudan gefera, dhe Crist belaewde, and his wite mid hellwarum underfehdh. Se dhe mid twyfealdum gedhance to mynsterlicre drohtnunge gecyrdh, and sumne dael his aehta daeldh, sumne him sylfum gehylt, and naefdh naenne truwan to dham Aelmihtigan, thaet he him foresceawige andlyfene and gew['ae]da and odhere neoda, he underfehdh thone awyrgedan cwyde mid Annanian and Saphiran, the swicedon on heora agenum aehtum, and mid faerlicum deadhe aetforan dham apostolum steorfende {400} afeollon. Se dhe on muneclicere drohtnunge earfodhhylde bidh, and gyrndh dhaera dhinga dhe h['e] on woruldlicere drohtnunge naefde, odhdhe begitan ne mihte, buton twyn him genealaehdh se hreofla Giezi, thaes witegan cnapan, and thaet thaet he on lichaman gedhrowade, thaet dhrowadh thes on his sawle. Se cnapa folgode dham maeran witegan Eliseum: tha com him to sum rice mann of tham leodscipe the is Siria geh['a]ten, his nama waes N['a]['a]m['a]n, and he waes hreoflig. Tha becom h['e] to dham Godes witegan Eliseum, on Iudea lande, and he dhurh Godes mihte fram dhaere codhe hine gehaelde. Tha bead he dham Godes menn, for his haeldhe, deorwurdhe sceattas. Se witega him andwyrde, "Godes miht the gehaelde, na ic. Ne underf['o] ic dhin feoh: dhanca Gode dhinre gesundfulnysse, and br['u]c dhinra aehta." N['a]['a]m['a]n dha gecyrde mid ealre his fare to his agenre leode.

Tha waes dhaes witegan cnapa, Gyezi, mid gitsunge undercropen, and of-arn, dhone dhegen N['a]['a]m['a]n dhus mid wordum liccetende, "Nu faerlice comon tweigra witegena bearn to minum lareowe: asend him twa scrud and sum pund." Se dhegen him andwyrde, "Waclic bidh him swa lytel to sendenne; ac genim feower scrud and twa pund." He dha gewende ongean mid tham sceattum, and bediglode his faer widh thone witegan. Se witega hine befr['a]n, "Hwanon come dhu, Giezi?" He andwyrde, "Leof, naes ic on nanre fare." Se witega cwaedh, "Ic geseah, dhurh Godes G['a]st, tha se dhegen alyhte of his craete, and eode togeanes dhe, and dhu name his sceattas on feo and on reafe. Hafa dhu eac fordh mid dham sceattum his hreoflan, dhu and eal dhin ofspring on ecnysse." And h['e] gewende of his gesihdhe mid snaw-hwitum hreoflan beslagen.

Is nu fordhi munuch['a]des mannum mid micelre gecnyrdnysse to forbugenne dhas yfelan gebysnunga, and geefenlaecan tham apostolum, thaet h['i], mid him and mid Gode, thaet ['e]ce l['i]f habban moton. Amen.

JUNE XXX.

THE NATIVITY OF ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE.

The church of God celebrates this day in honour of the great Apostle PAUL, for he is called the teacher of all nations: though his martyrdom, for true doctrine, was accomplished with the blessed Peter's. He had from childhood been bred up in the old law, and by great diligence was therein deeply imbued. After Christ's passion, when the true faith had sprung up through the preaching of the apostles, he persecuted christian men through his ignorance, and set them in prison, and was also consenting to the slaying of the first {387} martyr Stephen: it is not, however, read of him that he killed any man with his own hands.

"He took then letters of the high priests for the city of Damascus, that he might bind the christians that he found in the city, and lead them to Jerusalem. Then it happened on the journey that a great light came suddenly on him, and prostrated him on the earth, and he heard a voice from above thus saying, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? Evil will it be to thee to spurn against the goad. He then in great fright answered the voice, Who art thou, dear Lord? The calling of the divine voice answered him, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: but arise now, and go forth to the city; there shall it be said unto thee what it befitteth thee to do. He arose then with blinded eyes, and his companions led him thus blind to the city. And there abiding he tasted neither meat nor drink for a space of three days."