 CHAPTER I The former account indeed I made concerning all things, O Theophilus, that Jesus began both to do and to teach, till the day in which having given command, through the Holy Spirit to the Apostles whom he did choose out, he was taken up, to whom also he did present himself alive after his suffering, in many certain proofs, through forty days being seen by them and speaking the things concerning the reign of God. When being assembled together with them, he commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which saith he, he did hear of me. Because John, indeed, baptized with water, and ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit after not many days. They therefore, indeed, having come together, were questioning him, saying, Lord, does thou at this time restore the reign to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not yours to know times or seasons that the Father did appoint in his own authority, but ye shall receive power at the coming of the Holy Spirit upon you, and ye shall be witnesses to me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and unto the end of the earth. And these things, having said, they beholding he was taken up, and a cloud did receive him up from their sight, and as they were looking steadfastly to the heaven in his going on, then lo, two men stood by them in white apparel, who said, Men, Galileans, why do ye stand gazing into the heaven? This Jesus, who was received up from you into the heaven, shall so come in what manner ye saw him going on to the heaven. Then did they return to Jerusalem from the mount that is called of Olives, that is near Jerusalem a Sabbath-day's journey, and when they came in they went up to the upper room, where were abiding both Peter and James and John and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James of Alpheus, and Simon the Zealotus, and Judas of James. These all were continuing with one accord in prayer and supplication, with women and Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brethren. And in these days Peter having risen up in the midst of the disciples said, The multitude also of the names at the same place was as it were in hundred and twenty. Men, brethren, it behoove this writing that it be fulfilled that beforehand the Holy Spirit spake through the mouth of David concerning Judas who became guide to those who took Jesus, because he was numbered among us and did receive the share in this ministration. This one indeed then purchased a field out of the reward of unrighteousness, and following headlong burst of thunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed forth, and it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem in so much that the place is called, in their proper dialect, Asseldama, that is, Field of Blood. Ford hath been written in the Book of Psalms, that his lodging place become desolate, and let no one be dwelling in it, and his oversight let another take. It behooveeth therefore of the men who did go with us during all the time in which the Lord Jesus went in and went out among us, beginning from the baptism of John unto the day in which he was received up from us, one of these to become with us a witness of his rising again. And they said to Joseph Calvarsavis, who was surnamed Justice, Amethius, and having prayed they said, Thou, Lord, who art knowing the heart of all, show which one thou didst choose of these two to receive the share of this ministration and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression did fall to go on to his proper place. And they gave their lots, and the lot fell upon Amethius, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. CHAPTER II And in the day of the Pentecost being fulfilled they were all with one accord at the same place, and there came suddenly out of the heaven a sound as of a bearing violent breath, and it filled all the house where they were sitting, and there appeared to them divided tongues as it were of fire, it sat also upon each one of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues according as the Spirit was giving them to declare. And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation of those under the heaven. And the rumor of this having come the multitude came together and was confounded, because they were each one hearing them speaking in his proper dialect, and they were all amazed, and did wonder saying to one another, Lo are not all these who are speaking Galileans, and how do we hear each one in our proper dialect in which we were born, Parthians and Medes and Elamites and those dwelling in Mesopotamia, in Judea also and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia also and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya that are along Cyrene and the strangers of Rome both Jews and Prosalites, Greeks and Arabians we did hear them speaking in our tongues the great things of God. And they were all amazed and were in doubt saying one unto another, what would this wish to be? And others mocking said, They are full of sweet wine! And Peter Havie stood up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and declared to them, Men, Jews, and all those dwelling in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and hearken to my sayings, for these are not drunken as ye take it up, for it is the third hour of the day. But this is that which hath been spoken through the prophet Joel, and it shall be in the last day, saith God, I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams, and also upon my men's servants and upon my maid servants, in those days I will pour out of my spirit, and they shall prophesy, and I will give wonders in the heaven above, and signs upon the earth beneath. Blood and fire and vapor of smoke, the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the day of the Lord, the great and illustrious, and it shall be every one whomever shall call upon the name of the Lord, he shall be saved. Then Israelites, hear these words Jesus the Nazarene, a man approved of God among you by mighty works and wonders and signs, that God did through him in the midst of you, according as also ye yourselves have known, this one by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, being given out, having taken by lawless hands, having crucified ye did slay, whom God did raise up, having loosed the pains of the death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David saith in regard to him, I foresaw the Lord always before me, because he is on my right hand, that I may not be moved, because of this was my heart cheered, and my tongue was glad, and yet my flesh also shall rest on hope, because thou wilt not leave my soul to Hades, nor wilt give thy kind to one to see corruption. Thou didst make known to me ways of life, thou shalt fill me with joy, with thy countenance. Men, brethren, it is permitted to speak with freedom unto you concerning the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is among us unto this day. A prophet, therefore, being annoying that with an oath God did swear to him, out of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh to raise up the Christ, to sit upon his throne, having foreseen, he did speak concerning the rising again of the Christ, that his soul was not left in Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus did God raise up, of which we are all witnesses, at the right hand then of God having been exalted, also the promise of the Holy Spirit having received from the Father, he was shedding forth this which now you see in here, for David did not go up to the heavens, and he saith himself, the Lord saith to my Lord, sit thou at my right hand, till I make thy foals, thy footstool, assuredly therefore let all the house of Israel know that both Lord and Christ did God make him, this Jesus whom he did crucify. And having heard they were pricked to the heart, they saith also to Peter and to the rest of the apostles. What shall we do, men, brethren? And Peter said unto them, reform and be baptized each of you on the name of Jesus Christ to the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, for to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all those afar off, as many as the Lord our God shall call. Also with many more other words he was testifying and exhorting, saying, Be saved from this perverse generation. Then those indeed who did gladly receive his word were baptized, and there were added to that day as it were three thousand souls, and they were continuing steadfastly in the teaching of the apostles and the fellowship and the breaking of the bread and the prayers. And fear came on every soul, many wonders also and signs were being done through the apostles, and all those believing were at the same place and had all things common, and the possessions and the goods they were selling, and were parting them to all according as any one had need. Daily also continuing with one accord in the temple, breaking also at every house bread, they were partaking of food and gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and heavy favor with all the people, and the Lord was adding those being saved every day to the assembly. And Peter and John were going up at the same time to the temple at the hour of the prayer, the ninth hour, and a certain man being lame from the womb of his mother was being carried whom they were laying every day at the gate of the temple, called beautiful, to ask a kindness from those entering into the temple, who having seen Peter and John about to go into the temple, was begging to receive a kindness. And Peter, having looked steadfastly toward him with John, said, Look toward us. And he was giving heed to them, looking to receive something from them, and Peter said, Silver and Gold I have none, but what I have, that I give to thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and be walking. And having seized him by the right hand, he raised him up, and presently his feet and ankles were straightened, and springing up he stood and walking and did enter with them into the temple, walking and springing and praising God, and all the people saw him walking and praising God, they were knowing him also that this it was who for our kindness was sitting at the beautiful gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. And at the lame man who was healed holding Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch called Solomon's, greatly amazed, and Peter, having seen, answered unto the people, Men, Israelites, why wonder ye at this? Or honest, why look ye so earnestly, as if by our own power, by our piety, we have made him to walk? The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, did glorify his child Jesus, whom ye delivered up and denied him in the presence of Pilate. He having given judgment to release him, and ye, the holy and righteous one, did deny, and desired a man, a murderer, to be granted to you, and the Prince of Life ye did kill, whom God did raise out of the dead, of which we are witnesses, and on the faith of his name, this one whom ye see and have known, his name made strong, even the faith that is through him, to give to him this perfect soundness before you all. And now, brethren, I have known that through ignorance ye did it, as also your rulers. And God, what things before he had, declared through the mouth of all his prophets, that the Christ should suffer, he did thus fulfill. Before me, therefore, and turn back for your sins being blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and he may send Jesus Christ, who before had been preached to you, whom it behooveeth heaven indeed to receive all times of a restitution of all things, of which God spake through the mouth of all his holy prophets from the age. For Moses indeed, unto the Father said, A prophet to you shall the Lord your God raise up out of your brethren, like to me. Same shall ye hear in all things, as many as he may speak unto you, and it shall be every soul that may not hear that prophet, shall be utterly destroyed out of the people, and also all the prophets from Samuel, and those following in order, as many as spake did also foretell of these days. Ye are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant, that God made unto our fathers. Say nintu Abraham, and in thy seed shall be blessed all the families of the earth. To you first, God having raised up his child Jesus, did send him blessing you, in the turning away of each one from your evil ways. CHAPTER IV And as they were speaking unto the people, there came on them the priests and the magistrate of the temple, and the Sadducees, being grieved because of their teaching the people, and preaching in Jesus, the rising again out of the dead, and they laid hands upon them, and did put them in custody unto the morrow, for it was evening already. And many of those hearing the word de-believe, and the number of the men became as it were five thousand. And it came to pass upon the morrow, there were gathered together of them the rulers and elders and scribes to Jerusalem, and Annas the chief priest, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the chief priest, and having set them in the midst they were inquiring, in what power, or in what name did ye do this? Then Peter, having been filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them, Rulers of the people and elders of Israel, if we today are examined concerning the good deed to the ailing man, by whom he hath been saved, be it known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye did crucify, whom God did raise out of the dead, in him hath this one stood by before you whole. This is the stone that was set at not by you, the builders, that became head of a corner, and there is not salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven that hath been given among men, in which it behooveeth us to be saved. And beholding the openness of Peter and John, and having perceived that they are men unlettered and plebeian, they were wondering, they were taking knowledge also of them, that with Jesus Christ they had been, and seeing the man standing with them who hath been healed, they had nothing to say against it, and having commanded them to go away out of the Sanhedrin, they took counsel with one another, saying, What shall we do to these men? Because that indeed a notable sign hath been done through them, to all those dwelling in Jerusalem is manifest, and we are not able to deny it, but that it may be spread no further toward the people, let us strictly threaten them no more to speak in this name to any man. And having called them, they charged them not to speak at all, nor to teach in the name of Jesus, and Peter and John answering unto them said, Whether it is righteous before God to hearken to you rather than to God judge ye, for we cannot but speak what we did see and hear. And they having further threatened them, let them go, finding nothing how they may punish them, because of the people, because all were glorifying God for that which hath been done, for above forty years of age was the man upon whom had been done this sign of the healing. And being let go, they went unto their own friends, and declared whatever the chief priests and elders said unto them. And they having heard with one accord did lift up the voice unto God, and said, Lord thou art God who didst make the heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and all that are in them, who through the mouth of David thy servant did say, Why did nations rage and peoples meditate vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ, for gathered together of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, were both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with nations and peoples of Israel to do whatever thy hand and thy counsel did determine before to come to pass. And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings, and grant to thy servants with all freedom to speak thy word, in the stretching forth of thy hand for healing and signs and wonders to come to pass through the name of thy holy child Jesus. And they having prayed, the place was shaken and which they were gathered together, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and were speaking the word of God with freedom, and of the multitude of those who did believe the heart and soul was one, and not one was saved that anything of the things he had was his own, but all things were to them in common. And with great power were the apostles giving the testimony to the rising again of the Lord Jesus. Great grace also was on them all, for there was not any one among them who did lack, for as many as were possessors of fields or houses, selling them were bringing the prices of the things sold, and were laying them at the feet of the apostles, and distribution was being made to each according as any one had need. And Joseph, who was surnamed by the apostle Barnabas, which is, having been interpreted, son of Comfort, a Levite of Cyprus by birth, a field being his, having sold it, brought the money and laid it at the feet of the apostles. Chapter 5 An Assertan man, Ananias by name, with Sapphira his wife, sold the possession and did keep back of the price, his wife also knowing, and having brought a certain part of it at the feet of the apostle, he laid it. And Peter said, Ananias, Wherefore did the adversary fill thy heart for thee to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back of the price of the place, while it remained? Did it not remain thine? And having been sold in thy authority, was it not? Why is it that thou didst put in thy heart this thing? Thou didst not lie to men, but to God? And Ananias, hearing these words, having fallen down, did expire, and great fear came upon all who heard these things, and having risen the younger men wound him up, and having carried forth they buried him. And it came to pass about three hours after that, his wife not knowing what hath happened, came in, and Peter answered her, Tell me if for so much ye sold the place? As she said, Yes, for so much. And Peter said unto her, How was it agreed by you to tempt the spirit of the Lord? Although the feet of those who did bury thy husband are at the door, and they shall carry thee forth. And she fell down presently at his feet, and expired, and the young men, having come in, found her dead, and having carried forth, they buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon all the assembly, and upon all who heard these things. And through the hands of the apostles came many signs and wonders among the people, and they were all with one accord, all in the ports of Solomon, and of the rest no one was daring to join himself to them. But the people were magnifying them, and the more were believers added to the Lord multitudes both of men and women, so as into the broad places to bring forth the ailing, and to lay them upon couches and mats, that at the coming of Peter, even his shadow might overshadow some of them, and they were coming together also the people of the cities round about to Jerusalem, and those harassed by unclean spirits, who were all healed. And having risen the chief priest and all those with him, being the sect of the Sadducees, were filled with zeal, and laid their hands upon the apostles, and had put them in a public prison. And a messenger of the Lord through the night, opened the doors of the prison, having also brought them forth, he said, Go on, and stand and speak in the temple to the people all the sayings of this life. And having heard they did enter at the dawn into the temple, and were teaching. And the chief priests having come and those with him, they called together the Sanhedrin, and all the synod of the sons of Israel, and they sent to the prison to have them brought. And the officers having come did not find them in the prison, and having turned back they told, saying, The prison indeed we found checked in all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors, and having opened within we found no one. And as the priest and the magistrate of the temple, and the chief priest heard these words, they were doubting concerning them to what this would come. And coming near a certain one told them, saying, Lo, the men whom ye did put in the prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people. Then the magistrate having gone away with the officers, brought them without violence, for they were fearing the people, lest they should be stoned, and having brought them, they set them in the Sanhedrin, and the chief priests questioned them, saying, Did not we strictly command you, not to teach in this name, and lo, ye have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and ye intend to bring upon us the blood of this man? And Peter and the apostles answering said, Do obey God at Behooveth rather than men. The God of our fathers did raise up Jesus whom ye slew, having hanged upon a tree. This one God, a prince and saviour, hath exalted with his right hand to give reformation to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these saints, and the Holy Spirit also whom God gave to those obeying him. And they having heard were cut to the heart, and were taking counsel to slay them. But a certain one having risen up in the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee by name Gamelio, a teacher of law honoured by all the people, commanded to put the apostles forth a little, and said unto them, Men, Israelites, take heed to yourselves about these men, what ye are about to do, for before these days rose up Theodos, saying that himself was someone to whom a number of men did join themselves, as it were four hundred, who were slain and all as many as were obeying him, were scattered and came to not. After this one rose up Judas the Galilean in the days of the enrollment and drew away much people after him, and that one perished, and all as many as were obeying him were scattered. And now I say to you, refrain from these men, and let them alone, because if this counsel or this work may be of men, it will be overthrown. And if it be of God, ye are not able to overthrow it, lest perhaps also ye be found fighting against God. And to him they agreed, and having called near the apostles, having beaten them, they commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus and let them go. They indeed then departed from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that for his name they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor. Every day also in the temple, and in every house they were not ceasing teaching and proclaiming good news, Jesus the Christ. CHAPTER VI And in these days the disciples multiplying, there came a murmuring of the Hellenists at the Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily ministration, and the twelve, having called near the multitude of the disciples, said, It is not pleasing that we, having left the word of God, do minister at tables. Look out there for brethren, seven men of you who are well testified of, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may set over this necessity, and we to prayer and to the ministration of the word will give ourselves continually. And the thing was pleasing before all the multitude, and they did choose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Procarus, and Nicana, and Timon, and Parmenus, and Nicholas, a proselyte of Antioch, whom they did set before the apostles, and they, having prayed, laid on them their hands. And the word of God did increase, and the number of the disciples did multiply in Jerusalem exceedingly. A great multitude also of the priests were obedient to the faith. And Stephen, full of faith and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people, and there arose certain of those of the synagogue called the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen, and they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit with which he was speaking. And they suborned men, saying, we have heard him speaking evil sayings in regard to Moses and God. They did stir up also the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and having come upon him, they caught him and brought him to the Sanhedrin. They set up also false witnesses, saying, this one doth not cease to speak evil things against this holy place and the law, for we have heard him saying that this Jesus, the Nazarene, shall overthrow this place, and shall change the customs that Moses delivered to us, and gazing at him, all those sitting in the Sanhedrin saw his face as it were the face of a messenger. CHAPTER VII And the chief priest said, are then these things so? And he said, men, brethren, and fathers, Harkin, the God of the glory did appear to our Father Abraham, being in Mesopotamia, before his dwelling in Heron, and he said to him, go forth out of thy land, and out of thy kindred, and come to a land that I shall show thee. Then having come forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, he dwelt in Heron, and from thence after the death of his father he did remove him to this land wherein ye now dwell, and he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a footstep, and he'd promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, he having no child. And God spake thus, that his seed shall be sojourning in a strange land, and they shall cause it to serve, and shall do it evil four hundred years, and the nation whom they shall serve I will judge, said God, and after these things they shall come forth, and shall do me service in this place. And he gave to him a covenant of circumcision, and so he begat Isaac, and did circumcise him on the eighth day, and Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob the twelve patriarchs, and the patriarchs having been moved with jealousy, sold Joseph to Egypt, and God was with him, and did deliver him out of all his tribulations, and gave him favour and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he did set him governor over Egypt and all his house. And there came a dearth upon all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great tribulation, and our fathers were not finding sustenance, and Jacob having heard that there was corn in Egypt sent forth our fathers a first time, and at the second time was Joseph made known to his brethren, and Joseph's kindred became manifest to Pharaoh, and Joseph having sent did call for his father Jacob and all his kindred with seventy and five souls, and Jacob went down to Egypt and died himself and our fathers, and they were carried over into Sikkim, and they were laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a price in money from the sons of Emor of Sikkim. And according as the time of the promise was drawing nigh, which God did swear to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt, till another king rose who had not known Joseph, this one having dealt subtly with our kindred did evil to our fathers, causing to expose their babes that they might not live, in which time Moses was born, and he was fair to God, and he was brought up three months in the house of his father, and he having been exposed the daughter of Pharaoh took him up and did rear him to herself for a son, and Moses was taught in all wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was powerful in words and works, and when forty years were fulfilled to him it came upon his heart to look after his brethren, the sons of Israel, and having seen a certain one suffering injustice he did defend and did justice to the oppressed having smitten the Egyptian, and he was supposing his brethren to understand that God through his hand doth give salvation, and they did not understand. On the succeeding day also he showed himself to them as they were striving, and urged them to peace, saying, men, brethren in IE, wherefore do ye injustice to one another? And he who is doing injustice to the neighbour did thrust him away saying, who set the ruler, and a judge over us, to kill me doth thou wish, as thou didst kill yesterday the Egyptian? And Moses fled at this word and became a sojourner in the land of Midian where he begat two sons, and forty years having been fulfilled there appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai a messenger of the Lord in a flame of fire of a bush, and Moses having seen did wonder at the sight, and he drawing near to behold there came a voice of the Lord unto him, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and Moses having become terrified, durst not behold, and the Lord said to him, loose the sandle of thy feet for the place in which thou hast stood is holy ground, seeing I have seen the affliction of my people that is in Egypt, and their groaning I did here, and came down to deliver them, and now come I will send thee to Egypt. This Moses whom they did refuse, saying, who did set the ruler and a judge, this one God a ruler, and a redeemer did send, in the hand of a messenger who appeared to him in the bush, this one did bring them forth, having done wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness forty years, this is the Moses who did say to the sons of Israel, a prophet to you shall the Lord your God raise up out of your brethren, like to me, him ye shall hear. This is he who was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the messenger who is speaking to him in the Mount Sinai, and with our fathers who did receive the living oracles to give to us, to whom my fathers did not wish to become obedient, but did thrust away, and turned back in their hearts to Egypt, saying to Aaron, make us gods who shall go on before us, for this Moses who brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, we have not known what hath happened to him. And they made a calf in those days, and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and were rejoicing in the works of their hands, and God did turn, and did give them up to the service of the host of the heaven, according as it hath been written in the school of the Lord. Slain beasts and sacrifice did ye offer to me forty years in the wilderness. Oh, house of Israel! And ye took up the tabernacle of Molch, and the star of your god, Remphan, the figures that ye made to bow before them, and I will remove your dwelling beyond Babylon. The tabernacle of the 150th century, and the All of the testimony was among our fathers in the wilderness, according as he did direct, who is speaking to Moses, to make it according to the figure that he had seen, which also our fathers, having in succession received, did bring in with Joshua into the possession of the nations whom God did drive out from the presence of our fathers, till the days of David, who found favour before God, and requested to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob, and Solomon built him an house. But the most high in sanctuaries made with hands doth not dwell, according as the prophet Seth. The heaven is my throne, and the earth my footstool. What house will ye build to me, Seth the Lord? Or what is the place of my rest hath not my hand made all these things? Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and in ears, ye do always the Holy Spirit resist, as your fathers also ye. Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute, and they killed those who declared before about the coming of the righteous one, of whom now ye betrayers and murderers have become, who received the law by arrangement of messengers, and did not keep it? And hearing these things, they were cut to their hearts, and did gnash the teeth at him. And being full of the Holy Spirit, having looked steadfastly to the heaven, he saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing in the right hand of God, and he said, Lo, I see the heavens having been opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. And they, having cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and did rush with one accord upon him, and having cast him forth outside of the city, they were stoning him, and the witnesses did put down their garments at the feet of a young man called Saul, and they were stoning Stephen, calling and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit! And having bowed the knees, he cried with a loud voice, Lord, mayest thou not lay to them this sin? And this, having said, he fell asleep. Chapter 8. And Saul was assenting to his death, and there came in that day a great persecution upon the assembly in Jerusalem. All also were scattered abroad in the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles, and devout men carried away Stephen, and made great lamentation over him, and Saul was making havoc of the assembly into every house entering, and hailing men and women was giving them up to prison. They then, indeed having been scattered, went abroad proclaiming good news, the word. And Philip, having gone down to a city of Samaria, was preaching to them the Christ. The multitudes also were giving heed to the things spoken by Philip, with one accord in their hearing and seeing the signs that he was doing, for unclean spirits came forth from many who were possessed, crying with a loud voice and many who have been paralytic and lame were healed, and there was great joy in that city. And a certain man by name Simon was before in the city using magic and amazing the nation of Samaria, saying himself to be a certain great one, to whom they were all giving heed from small unto great, saying, this one is the great power of God, and they were giving heed to him because of his having for a long time amazed them with deeds of magic. And when they believed Philip, proclaiming good news, the things concerning the reign of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptised, both men and women, and Simon also himself did believe, and having been baptised he was continuing with Philip, beholding also signs and mighty acts being done. He was amazed. And the apostles in Jerusalem having heard that Samaria hath received the word of God, did send unto them Peter and John, who having come down did pray concerning them that they may receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet he was fallen upon none of them, and only they have been baptised to the name of the Lord Jesus. Then were they laying hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. And Simon, having beheld that through the laying on of the hands of the apostles, the Holy Spirit is given, brought before them money, saying, give also to me this authority that on whomsoever I may lay the hands he may receive the Holy Spirit. And Peter said unto him, thy silver with thee may it be to destruction because the gift of God thou didst think to possess through money, there hath neither part nor lot in this thing, for thy heart is not right before God. Reform therefore from this thy wickedness and beseech God if then the purpose of thy heart may be forgiven thee, for in the goal of bitterness and bond of unrighteousness I perceive thee being. And Simon answering said, beseech ye for me unto the Lord that nothing may come upon me of the things ye have spoken. They indeed therefore having testified fully and spoken the word of the Lord did turn back to Jerusalem in many villages also of the Samaritans they did proclaim good news. And a messenger of the Lord spake unto Philip saying, arise and go on toward the south on the way that is going down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is desert. And having arisen he went on and lo a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch, a man of rank, of Candace the queen of the Ethiopians who was over all her treasure who had come to worship to Jerusalem he was also returning and is sitting on his chariot and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip go near and be joined to this chariot and Philip having run near heard him reading the prophet Isaiah and said, does thou then know what thou dost read? And he said, why how am I able if someone may not guide me? He called Philip also having come up to sit with him. And the contents of the writing that he was reading was this. As a sheep unto slaughter he was led and as a lamb before his shearer dumb so he doth not open his mouth. In his humiliation his judgment was taken away and his generation who shall declare because taken from the earth is his life. And the eunuch answering Philip said, I pray thee about whom doth the prophet say this, about himself or some other one? And Philip having opened his mouth and having begun from this writing proclaim good news to him, Jesus. And as they were going on the way they came upon a certain water and the eunuch said, low water what doth hinder me to be baptised? And Philip said, if thou dost believe out of all the heart it is lawful and he answered him, said I believe Jesus Christ to be the son of God and he commanded the chariot to stand still and they both went down to the water, both Philip and the eunuch and he baptised him. 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 was going on his way rejoicing. And Philip was found at Azotus and passing through he was proclaiming good news to all the cities till his coming to Caesarea. And Saul yet breathing of threatening and slaughter to the disciples of the Lord having gone to the chief priest did ask from him letters to Damascus and to the synagogues that if he may find any being of the way both men and women he may bring them bound to Jerusalem. And in the going he came nigh to Damascus and suddenly there shone round about him a light from the heaven and having fallen upon the earth he heard a voice saying to him Saul, Saul why dost thou persecute? And he said who art thou Lord? And the Lord said I am Jesus whom thou dost persecute hard for thee at the prixed kick. Trembling also and astonished he said Lord what dost thou wish me to do? And the Lord said unto him arise and enter into the city and it shall be told thee what it behoved thee to do. And the men who were journeying with him stood speechless hearing indeed the voice but seeing no one. And Saul arose from the earth and his eyes having been opened he beheld no one and leading him by the hand they brought him to Damascus and he was three days without seeing and he did neither eat nor drink. And there was a certain disciple in Damascus by name Ananias and the Lord said unto him in a vision Ananias and he said behold me Lord and the Lord Seth unto him having risen go on unto the street that is called straight and seek in the house of Judas one by name Saul of Tarsus for low he doth pray and he saw in a vision a man by name Ananias coming in and putting a hand on him that he might see again. And Ananias answered Lord I have heard from many about this man how many evils he did to thy saints in Jerusalem and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all those calling on thy name. And the Lord said unto him be going on because a choice vessel to me is this one to bear my name before nations and kings the sons also of Israel for I will show him how many things it behoove him for my name to suffer. And Ananias went away and did enter into the house and having put upon him his hands said Saul brother the Lord hath sent me Jesus who did appear to thee in the way in which thou was coming that thou must see again and must be filled with the Holy Spirit. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it were scales he saw again also presently and having risen was baptised and having received nourishment was strengthened and saw us with the disciples in Damascus certain days and immediately in the synagogues he was preaching the Christ that he is the Son of God. And all those hearing were amazed and said is not this he who laid waste in Jerusalem those calling on his name and hitherto this intent had come that he might bring them bound to the chief priests and Saul was still more strengthened and he was confounding the Jews dwelling in Damascus proving that this is the Christ. And when many days were fulfilled the Jews took counsel together to kill him and the counsel against him was known to Saul they were also watching the gates both day and night that they may kill him and the disciples having taken him by night did let him down by the wall letting down in a basket and Saul having come to Jerusalem did try to join himself to the disciples and they were all afraid of him not believing that he is a disciple and Barnabas having taken him brought him to the apostles and did declare to them how in the way he saw the Lord and that he spoke to him and how in Damascus he was speaking boldly in the name of Jesus and he was with them coming in and going out in Jerusalem and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus he was both speaking and disputing with the Hellenists and they were taking in hand to kill him and the brethren having known brought him down to Caesarea and sent him forth to Tarsus. Then indeed the assemblies throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace being built up and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit they were multiplied and it came to pass that Peter passing throughout all quarters came down also under the saints who were dwelling at Lidder and he found there a certain man Enos by name for eight years laid upon a couch who was paralytic and Peter said to him Enos heal thee doth Jesus the Christ arise and spread for thyself and immediately he rose and all those dwelling at Lidder and Saron saw him and did turn to the Lord and in Joppa there was a certain female disciple by name Tabitha which interpreted is called Dorcus this woman was full of good works and kind acts that she was doing and it came to pass in those days she having ailed died and having bathed her they laid her in an upper chamber and Lidder being nigh to Joppa the disciples having heard that Peter is in that place sent two men unto him calling on him not to delay to come through unto them and Peter having risen went with them whom having come they brought into the upper chamber and all the widows stood by him weeping and showing coats and garments as many as Dorcus was making while she was with them and Peter having put them all forth without having bowed the knees did pray and having turned unto the body said Tabitha arise and she opened her eyes and having seen Peter she sat up and having given her his hand he lifted her up and having called the saints and the widows he presented her alive and it became known throughout all Joppa and many believed on the Lord and it came to pass that he remained many days in Joppa with a certain one Simon Attana chapter 10 and there was a certain man in Caesarea by name Cornelius the centurion from a band called Italian pious and fearing God with all his house doing also many kind acts to the people and beseeching God always he saw in a vision manifestly as it were the ninth hour of the day a messenger of God coming in unto him and saying to him Cornelius and he having looked earnestly on him and becoming afraid said what is it Lord and he said to him thy prayers and thy kind acts came up for a memorial before God and now sent men to Joppa and sent for a certain one Simon who is so named Peter this one doth lodge with a certain Simon Attana whose house is by the sea this one shall speak to thee what it behooveeth thee to do and when the messenger who is speaking to Cornelius went away having called to his domestics and a pious soldier of those waiting on him continually and having declared to them all things he sent them to Joppa and on the morrow as these are proceeding on the way and are drawing nigh to the city Peter went up upon the house top to pray about the sixth hour and he became very hungry and wished to eat and they making ready there fell upon him a trance and he doth behold a heaven opened and descending unto him a certain vessel as a great sheet bound at the four corners and let down upon the earth in which were all the four-footed beasts of the earth and the wild beasts and the creeping things and the fowls of the heaven and there came a voice unto him having risen Peter slay and eat and Peter said not so Lord because at no time did I eat anything common or unclean and there is a voice again a second time unto him what God did cleanse thou declare not thou common and this was done thrice and again was the vessel received up to the heaven and as Peter was perplexed in himself what the vision that he saw might be then lo the men who had been sent from Cornelius having made inquiry for the house of Simon stood at the gate and having called they were asking if Simon who is so named Peter doth lodge here and Peter thinking about the vision the spirit said to him lo three men do seek thee but having risen go down and go on with them nothing doubting because I have sent them and Peter having come down unto the men who have been sent from Cornelius unto him said lo I am he whom ye seek what is the cause for which ye are present and they said Cornelius a centurion a man righteous and fearing God well testified to also by all the nations of the Jews was divinely warned by a holy messenger to send for thee to his house and to hear sayings from thee having called them in therefore he lodged them and on the morrow Peter went forth with them and certain of the brethren from Joppo went with him and on the morrow they did enter into Caesarea and Cornelius was waiting for them having called together his kindred and near friends and as it came that Peter entered in Cornelius having met him having fallen at his feet did bow before him and Peter raised him saying stand up I also myself am a man and talking with him he went in and doth find many having come together and he said unto them ye know how it is unlawful for a man a Jew to keep company with or to come unto one of another race but to me God did show to call no man common or unclean therefore also without again saying I came having been sent for I asked therefore for what matter he did send for me and Cornelius said four days ago till this hour I was fasting and at the ninth hour praying in my house and low a man stood before me in bright clothing and he said Cornelius thy prayer was heard and thy kind acts were remembered before God send therefore to Joppa and call for Simon who is so named Peter this one doth lodge in the house of Simon a Tanner by the sea who having come shall speak to thee at once therefore I sent to thee thou also didst do well having come now therefore we are all before God present to hear all things that have been commanded thee by God and Peter having opened his mouth said of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons but in every nation he who is fearing him and is working righteousness is acceptable to him the word that he sent to the sons of Israel proclaiming good news peace through Jesus Christ this one is Lord of all ye ye have known the word that came throughout all Judea having begun from Galilee after the baptism that John preached Jesus who is from Nazareth how God did appoint him with the Holy Spirit and power who went through doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil because God was with him and we we are witnesses of all things that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem whom they did slay having hanged upon a tree this one did God raise up the third day and gave him to become manifest not to all the people but witnesses to those having been chosen before by God to us who did eat with him and did drink with him after his rising out of the dead and he commanded us to preach to the people and testify fully that it is he who hath been ordained by God judge of living and dead to this one do all the prophets testify that through his name everyone that is believing in him doth receive remission of sins while Peter is yet speaking these sayings the Holy Spirit fell upon all those hearing the word and those of the circumcision believing were astonished as many as came with Peter because also upon the nations the gift of the Holy Spirit hath been poured out for they were hearing them speaking with tongues and magnifying God then answered Peter the water is anyone able to forbid that these may not be baptized who the Holy Spirit did receive even as also we he commanded them also to be baptized in the name of the Lord then they besought him to remain certain days chapter 11 and the apostles and the brethren who are in Judea heard that also the nations did receive the word of God when Peter came up to Jerusalem those of the circumcision were contending with him saying unto men I'm circumcised out did go in and did steep with them and Peter having begun did expound to them in order saying I was in the city of Jopper praying and I saw in a trance a vision a certain vessel coming down as a great sheet by four corners being let down out of heaven and it came unto me at which having looked steadfastly I was considering and I saw the four-footed beasts of the earth and the wild beasts and the creeping things and the fowls of heaven and I heard a voice saying to me having risen Peter slay and eat and I said not so Lord because anything common or unclean hath at no time entered into my mouth and a voice did answer me a second time out of the heaven what God did cleanse thou declare not thou common and this happened thrice and again was all drawn up to the heaven and low immediately three men stood at the house in which I was having been sent from Caesar rear unto me and the spirit said to me to go with them nothing doubting and the six brethren also went with me and we did enter into the house of the man he declared also to us how he saw the messenger in his house standing and saying to him send men to Joppa and call for Simon who is so named Peter who shall speak sayings by which thou shalt be saved thou and all thy house and in my beginning to speak the Holy Spirit did fall upon them even as also upon us in the beginning and I remembered the saying of the Lord how he said John indeed did baptise with water and ye shall be baptised with the Holy Spirit if then the equal gift God did give to them as also to us having believed upon the Lord Jesus Christ I how was I able to withstand God and they having heard these things were silent and were glorifying God saying then indeed also to the nations did God give the reformation to life those indeed therefore having been scattered abroad from the tribulation that came after Stephen went through unto Venice and Cyprus and Antioch speaking the word to none except Jews only and there was certain of them men of Cyprus and Cyrene who having entered into Antioch were speaking unto the Hellenists proclaiming good news the Lord Jesus Christ and the hand of the Lord was with them a great number also having believed did turn unto the Lord and the account was heard in the ears of the assembly that is in Jerusalem concerning them and they sent forth Barnabas to go through unto Antioch who having come and having seen the grace of God was glad and was exhorting all with purpose of heart to cleave to the Lord because he was good man and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith and a great multitude was added to the Lord and Barnabas went forth to Tarsus to seek for Saul and having found him he brought him to Antioch and it came to pass that they a whole year did assemble together in the assembly and taught a great multitude the disciples also were divinely called first in Antioch Christians and in those days they came from Jerusalem prophets to Antioch and one of them by name Agabus having stood up did signify through the Spirit a great dearth is about to be throughout all the world which also came to pass in the time of Claudius Caesar and the disciples according as any one was prospering determined each of them to send for ministration to the brethren dwelling in Judea which also they did having sent unto the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul end of section 2 section 3 of acts this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org acts from young literal translation translated by Robert Young section 3 chapter 12 and about that time Herod the King put forth his hands to do evil to certain of those of the assembly and he killed James the brother of John with the sword and having seen that it is pleasing to the Jews he added to a hold of Peter also and they were the days of the unleavened food whom also having seized he did put in prison having delivered him to four catternayans of soldiers to guard him intending after the Passover to bring him forth to the people Peter therefore indeed was kept in the prison and fervent prayer was being made by the assembly unto God for him and when Herod was about to bring him forth the same night was Peter sleeping between two soldiers having been bound with two chains guards also before the door were keeping the prison and low a messenger of the Lord stood by in a light shown in the buildings and having smitten Peter on the side he raised him up saying rise and haste and his chains fell from off his hands the messenger also said to him gird thyself and bind on thy sandals and he did so and he saith to him put thy garment round and be following me and having gone forth he was following him and he knew not that it is true that which is done through the messenger it was thinking he saw a vision and having passed through a first ward in a second they came unto the iron gate that is leading to the city which of its own accord did open to them and having gone forth they went on through one street and immediately the messenger departed from him and Peter having come to himself said now I have known of a truth that the Lord did sent forth his messenger and did deliver me out of the hand of Herod in all the expectation of the people of the Jews also having considered he came unto the house of Mary the mother of John who is surname Mark where there were many throng together in praying and Peter having knocked at the door of the porch there came a damsel to Harkin by name Rhoda and having known the voice of Peter from the joy she did not open the porch but having run in told of the standing of Peter before the porch and they said unto her thou art mad and she was confidently affirming it to be so and they said it is his messenger and Peter was continuing knocking and having opened they saw him and were astonished and having beckoned to them with a hand to be silent he declared to them how the Lord brought him out of the prison and he said declare to James into the brethren these things and having gone forth he went on to another place and day having come there was not a little stirrum on the soldiers what then was become of Peter and Herod having sought for him and not having found having examined the guards did command them to be led away to punishment and having gone down from Judea to Cezar here he was abiding there and Herod was highly displeased with the Tyrians and Sidonians and with one accord they came unto him and having made a friend of Blastus who was over the bedchambers of the king they were asking peace because of their country being nourished from the kings and on a set day Herod having arrayed himself in kingly apparel and having sat down upon the tribunal was making an oration unto them and the populace were shouting the voice of a god not of a man and presently there is smoke in the messenger of the Lord because he did not give the glory to God and having been eaten of worms he expired and the word of God did grow and did multiply in Barnabas and Saul did turn back out of Jerusalem having fulfilled the ministration having taken also with them John who was surname Mark 13 and there were certain in Antioch in the assembly there prophets and teachers both Barnabas and Simeon who was called Niger and Lucius the Cyranian man and also Herod the tetrarch's foster brother and Saul and in their ministering to the Lord and fasting the Holy Spirit said separate ye to me both Barnabas and Saul to the work to which I have called them then having fasted and having prayed and having laid the hands on them they sent them away these indeed then having been sent forth by the Holy Spirit went down to Seleucia then also they sailed to Cyprus and having come unto Solomon they declared the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews and they had also John as a ministering and having gone through the island unto Paphos they found a certain magian false prophet a Jew whose name is Bar Jesus who was with the procounts of Sergius Paulus an intelligent man this one having called for Barnabas and Saul did desire to hear the word of God and there was stood them Elmas the magian for so is his name interpreted seeking to pervert the procounsel from the faith and Saul who also is Paul having been filled with the Holy Spirit and having looked steadfastedly on him said oh full of all guile in all prophecy son of a devil enemy of all righteousness wilt thou not cease perverting the right ways of the Lord and now lo a hand of the Lord is upon thee and thou shall be blind not seeing the sun for a season and presently there fell upon him a mist in darkness and he going about was seeking some to lead him by the hand then the procounsel having seen what had come to pass did believe being astonished at the teaching of the Lord and those about Paul having set sail from Paphos came to Perga of Pompphilia and John having departed from them did turn back to Jerusalem and they having gone through Perga came to Antioch of Pisitia and having gone into the synagogue on the Sabbath day they sat down and after the reading of the law and of the prophets the chief men of the synagogue sent unto them saying men brethren if there be a word in you of exhortation unto the people say on and Paul having risen and having beckoned with the hand said men israelites and those fearing God Harkin the God of this people Israel did choose our fathers and the people he did exalt in their sojourning and the land of Egypt and with and high arm did he bring them out of it in about a period of 40 years he did suffer their manners in the wilderness and having destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan he did divide by lot to them their land and after these things about 450 years he gave judges to Samuel the prophet and thereafter they asked for a king and God did give to them Saul son of Kish man of the tribe of Benjamin for 40 years and having removed him he did raise up to them David per king to whom also having testified he said I found David the son of Jesse a man according to my heart who shall do all my will of this one seed God according to promise did raise to Israel a savior Jesus John having first preach before his coming the baptism of reformation to all the people of Israel and as John was fulfilling the course he said whom me do you supposed to be I am not he but low he doth come after me of whom I am not worthy to loose the sandal of his feet men brethren sons of the race of Abraham and those among you fearing God to you was the word of this salvation sent for those dwelling in Jerusalem in their chiefs this one not having known also the voices of the prophets which every Sabbath are being read having judged him did fulfill and no cause of death having found they did ask of Pilate that he should be slain when they did complete all the things written about him having taken him down from the tree they laid him in a tomb in God did raise him out at the dead and he was seen for many days of those who did come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem who are his witnesses unto the people and we to you do proclaim good news that the promise made unto the fathers God had been full completed this to us their children having raised up Jesus also in the second Psalm it hath been written my son thou art I today have begotten me and that he did raise him up out of the dead no more to return to corruption he hath said thus I will give to you the faithful kindness of David wherefore also in another place he sayeth thou shalt not give thy kind one to see corruption for David indeed his own generation having served by the will of God did fall asleep and was added unto his fathers and saw corruption but he whom God did raise up did not see corruption let it therefore be known to you men brethren that through this one to you is the forgiveness of sins declared and from all things from which he were not able in the law of Moses to be declared righteous in this one everyone who is believing is declared righteous see therefore it may not come upon you that hath been spoken in the prophets see ye despisers and wonder and perish because a work I I do work in your days a work in which you may not believe though anyone may declare it to you and having gone forth out of the synagogue of the Jews the nations were calling upon them that on the next Sabbath these saints may be spoken to them in the synagogue having been dismissed many of the Jews in the devout proselytes did follow Paul and Barnabas who speaking to them were persuading them to remain in the grace of God and on the coming Sabbath almost all the city was gathered together to hear the word of God and the Jews having seen the multitudes were filled with zeal and did contradict the things spoken by Paul contradicting and speaking evil and speaking boldly Paul and Barnabas said to you it was necessary that first the word of God be spoken and seeing ye do thrust it away and do not judge yourselves worthy of the life age during though we do turn to the nations for so hath the Lord commanded us I have set thee for a light of nations for thy being for salvation unto the end of the earth and the nations hearing were glad and were glorifying the word of the Lord and did believe as many as were appointed to life age during and the word of the Lord was spread abroad through all the region and the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women and the first men of the city and did raise persecution against Paul and Barnabas and did put them out from their borders and they having shaken off the dust of their feet against them came to Iconium and the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit 14 and it came to pass in Iconium that they did enter together into the synagogue of the Jews in Spake so that there believe both of Jews and Greeks a great multitude and the unbelieving Jews did stir up and made evil the souls of the nations against the brethren long time indeed therefore did they abide speaking boldly in the Lord who is testifying to the word of his grace and granting signs and wonders to come to pass through their hands and the multitude of the city was divided and some were with the Jews and some with the apostles and when there was a purpose both of the nations and of the Jews with their rulers to use them despitefully and to stone them they having become aware did glee to the cities of Iconia Leistra and Derbe and to the region about and there they were proclaiming good news and a certain man in Leistra impotent in the feet was sitting being lain from the womb of his mother who never had walked this one was hearing Paul speaking who having steadfastly beheld him and having seen that he had faith to be saved said with a loud voice stand up on thy feet upright and he was springing and walking and the multitudes having seen what Paul did did lift up their voice in the speech of Iconia saying the gods have me become like men did come down unto us they were calling also Barnabas Zeus and Paul Hermes since he was the leader in speaking and the priest of the Zeus that is before their city oxen and garlands unto the porches having brought where the multitudes did wish to sacrifice and having heard the apostles Barnabas and Paul having rent their garments did spring into the multitude crying and saying men why these things do ye and we are men like affected with you proclaiming good news to you from these vanities to turn unto the living God who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all the things in them who in the past generations did suffer all the nations to go on in their ways though indeed without witness he did not leave himself doing good from heaven giving reigns to us and fruitful seasons filling our hearts with food and gladness and these things saying scarcely did they restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them and there came thither from Antioch and Econium Jews and they having persuaded the multitudes and having stone Paul drew him outside of the city having supposed him to be dead and the disciples having surrounded him having risen he entered into the city and on the morrow he went forth with Barnabas to Derbe having proclaimed good news also to that city and having discipled many they turned back to Lystra and Econium and Antioch confirming the souls of the disciples exhorting to remain in the faith and that through many tribulations it behoove us to gather into the reign of God in having appointed to them by vote elders in every assembly having prayed with fastings they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed and having passed through Pasitia they came to Panphilia and having spoken in Perga the word they went down to Italia and thence did sail to Antioch once they had been given by the grace of God for the work they had fulfilled and having come and gathered together the assembly they declared as many things as God did with them and that he did open to the nations a door of faith and they abode there not a little time with the disciples 15 and certain having come down from Judea were teaching the brethren if you be not circumcised after the custom of Moses you're not able to be saved they're having been therefore not a little dissension and disputation to Paul and Barnabas with them they arranged for Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them to go up unto the apostles and elders to Jerusalem about this question and indeed then having been sent forward by the assembly were passing through Phenus and Samarheia declaring the conversion of the nations and they were causing great joy to all the brethren and having come to Jerusalem they were received by the assembly and the apostles and the elders they declared also as many things as God did with them and there arose up certain of those of the sect of the Pharisees who believed saying it behoove to circumcise them to command them also to keep the law of Moses and there were gathered together the apostles and the elders to see about this matter and they're having been much disputing Peter having risen up said unto them men brethren you know that from former days God among us did make choice through my mouth for the nations to hear the word of the good news and to believe and the heart knowing God did bear them testimony having given to them the Holy Spirit even as also to us and did put no difference also between us and them by the faith having purified their hearts now therefore why do you tempt God to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear but through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we believe to be saved even as also they in all the multitude did keep silence and were hearkening to Barnabas and Paul declaring as many signs and wonders as God did among the nations through them and after they were silent James answered saying men brethren hearken to me Simeon did declare how at first God did look after to take out of the nations a people for his name and to this agree the words of the prophets as it hath been written after these things I will turn back and I will build again the tabernacle of David that has fallen down in its ruins I will build again it will set it upright that the residue of man may seek after the Lord and all the nations upon whom my name hath been called saith the Lord who is doing all these things known from the ages to God are all his works wherefore I judge not to trouble those who from the nations do turn back to God but to write to them to abstain from the pollutions of the idols and the hordom and the strangled thing and the blood from Moses from former generations in every city hath those preaching him in the synagogues every Sabbath being read then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders with the whole assembly chosen men out of them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas Judas surname Bar Sabbaths and Silas leading men among the brethren having written through their hand thus the apostles and the elders and the brethren to those in Antioch and Syria and Silicia brethren who are of the nations greeting seeing we have heard that certain having gone forth from us did trouble you with words subverting your souls saying to be circumcised and to keep the law to whom we did give no charge it seemed good to us having come together with one accord chosen men to send unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul men who have given up their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ we have sent therefore Judas and Silas and they by word are telling the same things for it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us no more burden to lay upon you except these necessary things to abstain from things offered to idols and blood and the strangled thing and hordom from which keeping yourselves we shall do well be strong they then indeed having been let go went to Antioch and having brought the multitude together did deliver the epistle and they having read did rejoice for the consolation Judas also and Silas being themselves also prophets through much discourse did exhort the brethren and confirm and having passed some time they were let go with peace from the brethren unto the apostles and it seemed good to Silas to remain there still and Paul and Barnabas continued in Antioch teaching and proclaiming good news with many others also the word of the Lord and after certain days Paul said unto Barnabas having turned back again we may look after our brethren in every city in which we have preached the word of the Lord how they are and Barnabas counseled to take with them John called Mark and Paul was not thinking it good to take him with them who withdrew from them from Pamphylia it did not go with them to the work there came therefore a sharp contention so that they were parted from one another and Barnabas having taken Mark did sail to Cyprus and Paul having chosen Silas one fourth having been given up to the grace of God by the brethren and he went through Syria and Solicia confirming the assemblies 16 and he came to Derpe and Lystra and Loa a certain disciple was there by name Timothyus son of a certain woman a believing Jewish but of a father a Greek who was well testified to by the brethren in Lystra and Iconium this one did Paul wish to go forth with him and having taken him he circumcised him because of the Jews who are in those places for they all knew his father that he was a Greek and as they were going on through the cities they were delivering to them the decrees to keep that having been judged by the apostles and the elders who are in Jerusalem then indeed where the assemblies established in the faith were abounding in number every day and having gone through Fyrgia and the region of Galatia having been forbidden by the Holy Ghost to speak the word in Asia having gone toward Mycia then we're trying to go on toward Vithnia and the Spirit did not suffer them and having passed by Mycia they came down to Troas and a vision through the night appeared to Paul a certain man of Macedonia was standing calling upon him and saying having passed through to Macedonia help us but when he saw the vision immediately we endeavored to go forth to Macedonia assuredly gathering that the Lord hath called us to preach good news to them having set sail therefore from Troas we came with a straight course to Samothrosia on the morrow also to Neopolis thence also to Philippi which is a principal city of the part of Macedonia a colony and we were in the city abiding certain days on the Sabbath day also we went forth outside of the city by a river where there used to be prayer and having sat down we were speaking to the women who came together and a certain woman by name Lydia a cellar of purple of the city of triatira worshipping God was hearing whose heart the Lord did open to attend to the things spoken by Paul and when she was baptized in her household she did call upon us saying if ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord having entered into my home remain and she constrained us and it came to pass in our going on to prayer a certain maid having a spirit of python did meet us who brought much employment to her masters by sooth saying she having followed Paul and us was crying saying these men are servants of the most high God who declared to us a way of salvation and this she was doing for many days but Paul having been grieved and having turned said to the spirit I command me in the name of Jesus Christ to come forth from her and it came forth the same hour and her masters having seen that the hope of their employment was gone having caught Paul and Silas drew them to the marketplace unto the rulers and having brought them to the magistrates they said these men do exceedingly trouble our city being jews and they proclaim customs that are not lawful for us to receive nor to do being romans and the multitude rose up together against them and the magistrates having torn their garments from them were commanding to beat them with rods many blows also having laid upon them they cast them to prison having given charge to the jailer to keep them safely who such a charge having received did put them to the inner prison and their feet made fast in the stocks and at midnight Paul and Silas praying were seeing hymns to God and the prisoners were hearing them and suddenly a great earthquake came so that the foundations of the prison were shaken opened also presently were all the doors and of all the bands were loosened and the jailer having come out of sleep and having seen the doors of the prison open having drawn a sword was about to kill himself supposing the prisoners to be fled and Paul cried out with a loud voice saying thou mayst not do thyself any harm for we are all here and having asked for a light he spring in and trembling he fell down before Paul and Silas and having brought them forth said sirs what must I do that I may be saved and they said believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved thou and thy house and they spake to him the word of the Lord into all those in his household and having taken them in that hour of the night he did bathe them from the blows and was baptized himself and all his presently having brought them also into his house he set food before them and was glad with all the household he having believed in God and day having come the magistrates sent the rodbearers saying let those men go and the jailer told these words unto Paul the magistrates have sent that ye may be let go now therefore having gone forth go on in peace and Paul said to them having beaten us publicly uncondemned men Romans being they did cast us to prison and now privately do they cast us forth why no but having come themselves let them bring us forth and the rodbearers told to the magistrates these sayings and they were afraid having heard that they are Romans and having come they besought them and having brought them forth they were asking them to go forth from the city and they having gone forth out of the prison entered into the house of Lydia and having seen the brethren they comforted them and went forth end of section three