will God raise up to you of your brethren, like unto. (38)This is he
who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke
to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers; who received the
living oracles to give to us; (39)to whom our fathers would not be
obedient, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back
again into Egypt, (40)saying to Aaron: Make us gods who shall go
before us; for as for this Moses, who brought us out of the land of
Egypt, we know not what is become of him.
(41)And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice to the
idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. (42)And God turned
away, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written
in the book of the prophets:
Did ye offer to me slain beasts and sacrifices,
Forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
(43)And ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch,
And the star of the god Remphan,
The figures which ye made to worship them;
And I will carry you away beyond Babylon.
(44)Our fathers had the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness,
as he who spoke to Moses commanded, that he should make it according
to the pattern that he had seen; (45)which also our fathers received,
and brought in with Joshua into the possession of the heathen, whom
God drove out before our fathers, unto the days of David; (46)who
found favor before God, and asked that he might find a habitation for
the God of Jacob. (47)But Solomon built a house for him. (48)Yet the
Most High dwells not in temples made with hands; as says the prophet:
(49)Heaven is my throne,
And the earth is my footstool.
What house will ye build for me, saith the Lord;
Or what is my place of rest?
(50)Did not my hand make all these things?
(51)Stiff-necked, and uncircumcised in heart and ears! Ye always
resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do ye. (52)Which of
the prophets did not your fathers persecute? And they slew those who
announced beforehand concerning the coming of the Just One; of whom ye
have now become the betrayers and murderers; (53)who received the law
as the ordinances of angels, and kept it not.
(54)Hearing these things, they were enraged in their hearts, and
gnashed their teeth against him. (55)But, being full of the Holy
Spirit, he looked intently into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and
Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said: (56)Behold, I see
the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of
God. (57)And crying out with a loud voice, they stopped their ears,
and rushed upon him with one accord; (58)and having cast him out of
the city, they stoned him. And the witnesses laid off their garments
at the feet of a young man named Saul, (59)and stoned Stephen, calling
and saying: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. (60)And kneeling down, he
cried with a loud voice: Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And
saying this, he fell asleep.
VIII.
AND Saul was consenting to his death. And on that day there arose a
great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and all
were scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria,
except the apostles. (2)And devout men carried Stephen to his burial,
and made great lamentation over him. (3)But Saul laid waste the
church, entering house after house, and dragging both men and women,
committed them to prison.
(4)They, therefore, that were scattered, went abroad, preaching the
word. (5)And Philip went down to the city[8:5] of Samaria, and
preached to them the Christ. (6)And the multitudes with one accord
gave heed to the things said by Philip, when they heard, and saw the
signs which he wrought. (7)For out of many who had unclean spirits
they went forth, crying with loud voice; and many that were palsied,
and that were lame, were healed. (8)And there was great joy in that
city.
(9)But a certain man, named Simon, was in the city before, using
sorcery, and bewitching the people of Samaria, saying that he was some
great one; (10)to whom all gave heed, from the least to the greatest,
saying: This man is the great power of God[8:10]. (11)And to him they
gave heed, because for a long time they were bewitched by his
sorceries. (12)But when they believed Philip publishing the good news
concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were
immersed, both men and women. (13)And Simon also himself believed; and
having been immersed, he continued with Philip, and wondered,
beholding the miracles and signs which were wrought.
(14)And the apostles in Jerusalem, hearing that Samaria has received
the word of God, sent to them Peter and John; (15)who, having come
down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit;
(16)for he had not yet fallen upon any of them; but they had only been
immersed in the name of the Lord Jesus. (17)Then they laid their hands
on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
(18)And Simon, seeing that through the laying on of the apostles'
hands the Holy Spirit was given, offered them money, (19)saying: Give
me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the
Holy Spirit. (20)But Peter said to him: Thy money perish with thee;
because thou didst think to obtain the gift of God with money:
(21)Thou hast no part nor lot in this matter[8:21]; for thy heart is
not right in the sight of God. (22)Repent therefore of this thy
wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of thy heart
shall be forgiven thee. (23)For I perceive that thou art in the gall
of bitterness, and the bond of iniquity.
(24)And Simon answering, said: Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none
of the things which ye have spoken come upon me.
(25)They, therefore, having testified and spoken the word of the Lord,
were returning to Jerusalem, and publishing the good news to many
villages of the Samaritans. (26)But an angel of the Lord spoke to
Philip, saying: Arise, and go down to the south, to the way that goes
down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is desert.
(27)And he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch, an
officer of state of Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all
her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, (28)was returning,
and sitting in his chariot; and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.
(29)And the Spirit said to Philip: Go near, and join thyself to this
chariot. (30)And Philip ran thither, and heard him reading Isaiah the
prophet. And he said: Understandest thou then what thou art reading?
(31)And he said: How could I, except some one should guide me? And he
entreated Philip to come up, and sit with him.
(32)And the contents of the Scripture which he was reading was this:
He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;
And as a lamb dumb before his shearer,
So he opens not his mouth.
(33)In his humiliation his judgment was taken away;
And his generation[8:33] who shall fully declare?
For his life is taken away from the earth.
(34)And the eunuch answering said to Philip: I pray thee, of whom does
the prophet speak this? Of himself, or of some other man? (35)And
Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, made known
to him the good news of Jesus. (36)And as they went along the way,
they came to a certain water. And the eunuch said: See, here is water;
what hinders that I should be immersed? (37)[8:37]And Philip said: If
thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And answering he said:
I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (38)And he commanded
that the chariot should stop. And they went down both into the water,
both Philip and the eunuch; and he immersed him. (39)And when they
came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip;
and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing.
(40)But Philip was found at Azotus; and passing through, he published
the good news to all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
IX.
BUT Saul, yet breathing threatening and slaughter against the
disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, (2)and asked of him
letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this
way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound to
Jerusalem.
(3)And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus. And suddenly there
flashed around him a light from heaven; (4)and he fell to the earth,
and heard a voice saying to him: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
(5)And he said: Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said: I am Jesus,
whom thou persecutest. (6)But arise, and go into the city, and it
shall be told thee what thou must do.
(7)And the men who journeyed with him were standing speechless,
hearing the voice, but seeing no one. (8)And Saul arose from the
earth; and his eyes being opened, he saw nothing; and leading him by
the hand, they brought him into Damascus. (9)And he was three days
without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
(10)And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and
to him the Lord said, in a vision, Ananias! And he said, Behold, I am
here, Lord. (11)And the Lord said to him: Arise, and go into the
street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for
one called Saul of Tarsus. For, behold, he prays; (12)and in a vision
he saw a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him,
that he might receive sight.
(13)And Ananias answered: Lord, I have heard from many concerning this
man, how great evils he did to thy saints at Jerusalem. (14)And here
he has authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy
name. (15)But the Lord said to him: Go; for he is to me a chosen
vessel, to bear my name before Gentiles, and kings, and the sons of
Israel; (16)for I will show him how great things he must suffer for my
name's sake. (17)And Ananias went, and entered into the house; and
putting his hands on him, he said: Brother Saul, the Lord has sent me,
Jesus who appeared to thee in the way thou camest, that thou mayest
receive sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. (18)And immediately
there fell off from his eyes as it were scales; and he received sight,
and arose, and was immersed; (19)and having taken food, he was
strengthened.
And Saul was certain days with the disciples at Damascus. (20)And
straightway he preached Jesus, in the synagogues, that he is the Son
of God. (21)And all that heard him were amazed, and said: Is not this
he who destroyed in Jerusalem those who call on this name? And he came
hither for this purpose, that he might bring them bound to the chief
priests.
(22)But Saul was more strengthened, and confounded the Jews who dwelt
at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.
(23)And when many days were completed, the Jews took counsel to kill
him. (24)But their lying in wait became known to Saul. And they were
watching the gates day and night to kill him. (25)But the disciples
took him by night, and let him down through the wall, lowering him in
a basket.
(26)And Saul, having come to Jerusalem, attempted to join himself to
the disciples; and all were afraid of him, not believing that he was a
disciple. (27)But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles,
and related fully to them how he saw the Lord in the way, and that he
spoke to him, and how he preached boldly at Damascus in the name of
Jesus. (28)And he was with them, going in and out at Jerusalem,
(29)and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus; and was
speaking and disputing against the Grecian Jews; but they were
attempting to slay him. (30)And the brethren, learning it, brought him
down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
(31)The church therefore, throughout all Judaea and Galilee and
Samaria, had peace, being built up, and walking in the fear of the
Lord, and in the consolation of the Holy Spirit, was multiplied.
(32)And it came to pass that Peter, going through them all, came down
also to the saints who dwelt at Lydda. (33)And there he found a
certain man named Aeneas, who had lain upon a pallet eight years, who
was palsied. (34)And Peter said to him: Aeneas, Jesus the Christ makes
thee whole; arise, and make thy bed. And immediately he arose. (35)And
all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him; and they turned to the
Lord.
(36)And there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which
interpreted is called Dorcas. This woman was full of good works, and
of alms, which she did. (37)And it came to pass in those days, that
she was sick, and died. And having washed her, they laid her in an
upper chamber. (38)And as Lydda was near to Joppa, the disciples,
having heard that Peter was there, sent to him two men, entreating
that he would not delay to come to them.
(39)And Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought
him into the upper chamber; and all the widows stood by him weeping,
and showing coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with
them. (40)But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed;
and turning to the body, he said: Tabitha, arise. And she opened her
eyes; and seeing Peter, she sat up. (41)And he gave her his hand, and
raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her
alive. (42)And it became known throughout all Joppa; and many believed
on the Lord.
(43)And it came to pass, that he remained many days in Joppa, with one
Simon, a tanner.
X.
THERE was a certain man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of
the band called the Italian band; (2)devout, and one that feared God
with all his house, giving many alms to the people, and praying to God
always. (3)He saw in a vision, distinctly, about the ninth hour of the
day, an angel of God coming in to him, and saying to him: Cornelius!
(4)And fixing his eyes on him, he was afraid, and said: What is it,
Lord? And he said to him: Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a
memorial before God. (5)And now send men to Joppa, and call for Simon,
who is surnamed Peter. (6)He lodges with one Simon a tanner, whose
house is by the seaside.
(7)And when the angel who spoke to Cornelius was gone, he called two
of his household servants, and a devout soldier of those who waited on
him; (8)and having told them all these things, he sent them to Joppa.
(9)On the morrow, as they were journeying, and drawing near to the
city, Peter went up upon the house-top to pray, about the sixth hour.
(10)And he became very hungry, and desired to eat. While they now were
making ready, there fell upon him a trance; (11)and he beholds heaven
opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as a great sheet,
bound by four corners, and let down upon the earth; (12)wherein were
all the fourfooted beasts and creeping things of the earth, and birds
of the air. (13)And there came a voice to him: Arise, Peter; slay, and
eat. (14)But Peter said: Not so, Lord; for I never ate anything common
or unclean. (15)And a voice came to him again, the second time: What
God cleansed, call not thou common. (16)This was done thrice; and the
vessel was taken up again into heaven.
(17)And while Peter was doubting in himself what the vision might be
which he saw, behold, the men who were sent from Cornelius, having
made inquiry for Simon's house, came and stood before the gate;
(18)and calling they asked, whether Simon, who is surnamed Peter,
lodges here.
(19)While Peter was earnestly considering the vision, the Spirit said
to him: Behold, men are seeking thee. (20)But arise, and go down, and
go with them, making no scruple; because I have sent them.
(21)Peter went down to the men, and said: Behold, I am he whom ye
seek. What is the cause for which ye are here? (22)And they said:
Cornelius, a centurion, a just man, and one that fears God, and of
good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by a
holy angel to send for thee to his house; and to hear words from thee.
(23)He called them in, therefore, and lodged them. And on the morrow
Peter went forth with them, and certain brethren from Joppa went with
him. (24)And on the morrow after, they entered into Caesarea. And
Cornelius was expecting them, having called together his kinsmen and
near friends. (25)And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and
fell down at his feet, and did reverence to him. (26)But Peter raised
him, saying: Stand up; I myself also am a man. (27)And while talking
with him, he went in, and found many that were come together. (28)And
he said to them: Ye know that it is unlawful[10:28] for a Jew to keep
company with, or come to, one of another nation; but God showed me
that I should not call any man common or unclean. (29)Wherefore I also
came without delay, when sent for. I ask therefore for what reason did
ye send for me?
(30)And Cornelius said: Four days ago I was fasting unto this hour,
and at the ninth hour was praying in my house; and, behold, a man
stood before me in bright clothing, (31)and said: Cornelius, thy
prayer was heard, and thine alms were remembered before God. (32)Send
therefore to Joppa, and call for Simon, who is surnamed Peter; he
lodges in the house of Simon a tanner, by the sea-side; who, when he
comes will speak to thee. (33)Immediately therefore I sent to thee;
and thou didst well in coming hither. Now therefore we are all present
before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee from the Lord.
(34)And Peter opened his mouth, and said: Of a truth I perceive that
God is not a respecter of persons; (35)but in every nation he that
fears him, and works righteousness, is acceptable to him. (36)The word
which he sent to the sons of Israel, publishing glad tidings of peace
through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), (37)ye know; the thing which
was done throughout all Judaea, beginning from Galilee, after the
immersion which John preached; Jesus of Nazareth, (38)how God anointed
him with the Holy Spirit and with power; who went about doing good,
and healing all that were oppressed by the Devil; because God was with
him. (39)And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the
country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew, hanging him on
a tree. (40)Him God raised on the third day, and showed him openly;
(41)not to all the people, but to witnesses before appointed by God,
to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. (42)And
he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is he
who has been appointed by God to be Judge of the living and dead.
(43)To him all the prophets bear witness, that through his name every
one who believes on him shall receive remission of sins.
(44)While Peter was yet speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on
all who heard the word. (45)And those of the circumcision who
believed, as many as came with Peter, were astonished, that on the
Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit. (46)For they
heard them speaking with tongues, and magnifying God.
Then answered Peter: (47)Can any one forbid the water, that these
should not be immersed, who received the Holy Spirit even as we also?
(48)And he commanded that they should be immersed in the name of the
Lord. Then they entreated him to remain certain days.
XI.
AND the apostles, and the brethren throughout Judaea, heard that the
Gentiles also received the word of God. (2)And when Peter went up to
Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,
(3)saying: Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with
them.
(4)But Peter rehearsed the matter to them in order, from the
beginning, saying: (5)I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a
trance I saw a vision, a certain vessel descending, as a great sheet,
let down out of heaven by four corners; and it came even to me. (6)On
which fixing my eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the
earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and birds of the air.
(7)And I heard a voice saying to me: Arise, Peter; slay and eat.
(8)But I said: Not so, Lord; for nothing common or unclean ever
entered into my mouth. (9)But a voice answered me a second time out of
heaven: What God cleansed, regard not thou as common. (10)And this was
done three times; and all were drawn up again into heaven.
(11)And, behold, immediately there stood three men at the house where
I was, having been sent to me from Caesarea. (12)And the Spirit bade
me go with them, making no scruple. And these six brethren also went
with me, and we entered into the man's house. (13)And he told us how
he saw the angel in his house, standing and saying to him: Send to
Joppa, and call for Simon who is surnamed Peter; (14)who will speak to
thee words, whereby thou shalt be saved, and all thy house.
(15)And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, as also on
us at the beginning; (16)and I remembered the word of the Lord, how he
said: John indeed immersed in water, but ye shall be immersed in the
Holy Spirit. (17)If therefore God gave the like gift to them as to us,
having believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who then was I, that I could
withstand God?
(18)When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified
God, saying: So then, to the Gentiles also God gave repentance unto
life.
(19)Now they who were scattered abroad by the persecution that arose
on account of Stephen, went as far as Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and
Antioch, speaking the word to none but Jews. (20)But some of them were
men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, having come to Antioch, spoke to the
Greeks, publishing the good news of the Lord Jesus. (21)And the hand
of the Lord was with them; and a great number believed, and turned to
the Lord.
(22)But the report concerning them came to the ears of the church
which was in Jerusalem; and they sent forth Barnabas, to go as far as
Antioch. (23)Who having come, and seen the grace of God, rejoiced; and
he exhorted all, that with purpose of heart they should cleave to the
Lord. (24)For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of
faith. And a great multitude was added to the Lord.
(25)And Barnabas departed to Tarsus, to seek for Saul; (26)and having
found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it came to pass, that a
whole year they came together in the church, and taught a great
multitude; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
(27)And in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
(28)And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the
Spirit that there should be a great dearth over all the world; which
came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. (29)And the disciples,
according as any one was prospered, determined each of them to send
relief to the brethren dwelling in Judaea; (30)which also they did,
sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
XII.
AND about that time, Herod the king stretched forth his hands to
oppress[12:1] certain of the church. (2)And he slew James the brother
of John with the sword. (3)And seeing that it pleased the Jews, he
proceeded further to take Peter also; (then were the days of
unleavened bread;) (4)whom he also seized and put in prison,
delivering him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending
after the passover to bring him forth to the people.
(5)Peter therefore was kept guarded in the prison; but earnest prayer
was made by the church to God on his behalf.
(6)And when Herod was about to bring him forth, in that night Peter
was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains; and keepers
before the door were guarding the prison. (7)And, behold, an angel of
the Lord stood by him, and a light shined in the prison; and he smote
Peter on the side, and raised him, saying: Rise up quickly. And his
chains fell from off his hands. (8)And the angel said to him: Gird
thyself, and bind on thy sandals; and he did so. And he said to him:
Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. (9)And he went out, and
followed him; and knew not that what was done by the angel was true,
but thought he saw a vision.
(10)And having passed the first and the second watch, they came to the
iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them of its own
accord; and they went out, and passed on through one street, and
immediately the angel departed from him.
(11)And Peter, having come to himself, said: Now I know truly, that
the Lord sent forth his angel, and delivered me out of the hand of
Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. (12)And
becoming fully conscious of it, he went to the house of Mary the
mother of John, who was surnamed Mark, where many were gathered
together, and praying.
(13)And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a maidservant came
to hearken, named Rhoda.
(14)And recognizing Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for
gladness, but ran in, and told that Peter was standing before the
gate. (15)And they said to her: Thou art mad. But she confidently
affirmed that it was even so. And they said: It is his angel.