21 Then Peter going down to the and thy alms are had in remem men, said: Behold 1 am he whom brance in the sight of God. you seek; what is the cause, for which you are come? 22 Who said: Cornelius a centurion, a just man and one that feareth God, and having good testimony from all the nation of the Jews, received an answer of an holy angel, to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee. 23 Then bringing them in, he lodged them. And the day following he arose and went with them: and some of the brethren from Joppe accompanied him. 24 And the morrow after he entered into Cesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, having called together his kinsmen, and special friends. 25 And it came to pass, that when Peter was come in, Cornelius came to meet him, and falling at his feet adored. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying: Arise, I myself also am a man. 27 And talking with him, he went in, and found many that were come together. 32 Send therefore to Joppe, and call hither Simon, who is surnamed Peter, he lodgeth in the house of Simon a tanner by the sea side. 33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee: and thou hast done well in coming. Now therefore all we are present in thy sight, 'to hear all things whatsoever are commanded thee by the Lord. 34 And Peter opening his mouth, said: In very deed I perceive that God is not a respecter of persons. 35 But in every nation, he that feareth him, and worketh justice, is acceptable to him. 36 God sent the word to the children of Israel, preaching peace by JESUS CHRIST: (he is Lord of all.) 37 You know the word which hath been published through all Judea; for it began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached. 38 JESUS of Nazareth: how God anointed him with the Holy Ghost, and with power, who went about doing good and healing all that 28 And he said to them: You were oppressed by the devil, for know how abominable it is for a God was with him. things that he did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed, hanging him upon a tree. man that is a Jew, to keep compa- 39 And we are witnesses of all ny or to come unto one of another nation: but God hath shewed to me, to call no man common or unclean. 29 For which cause, making no doubt, I came when I was sent for. I ask therefore, for what cause you have sent for me? 40 Him God raised up the third day, and gave him to be made manifest, 41 Not to all the people, but to 30 And Cornelius said: Four witnesses pre-ordained by God, days ago, unto this hour, I was even to us, who did eat and drink praying in my house, at the ninth with him after he arose again from hour, and behold a man stood before the dead. me in white apparel, and said: 31 Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify Ver. 35. In every nation, &c. That is to say, not only Jews, but gentiles also, of what nation soever, are acceptable to God, if they fear and work justice. But then true faith is always to be pre-supposed, without which (saith St. Paul, Heb. xl. 6.) it is imposible to please God. Beware then of the error of those who would infer from this passage, that men of all religions may be pleasing to God: For since none but the true religion can be from God, all other religions must be from the father of lies; and therefore highly displea sing to the God of truth. that it is he who was appointed by nothing common or unclean hath 43 To him all the prophets give testimony, that by his name all receive remission of sins, who believe in him. 44 While Peter was yet speaking these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them that heard the word. 9 And the voice answered again from heaven: What God hath made clean, do not thou call common. 10 And this was done three times : And all were taken up again into heaven. 11 And behold, immediately there were three men come to the house wherein I was, sent to me from Ce sarea. 12 And the Spirit said to me, that 45 And the faithful of the circumcision, who came with Peter, were astonished, for that the grace of the Holy Ghost was poured out I should go with them, nothing upon the gentiles also. doubting. And these six brethren 46 For they heard them speaking went with me also: and we enterwith tongues, and magnifying God. ed into the man's house. 47 Then Peter answered: Can 13 And he told us how he had any man forbid water, that these seen an angel in his house, standing should not be baptized, who have re- and saying to him: Send to Joppe, ceived the Holy Ghost as well as we? and call hither Simon, who is sur48 And he commanded them to be named Peter, baptized in the name of the Lord JESUS CHRIST. Then they desired him to tarry with them some days. CHAP XI.. Many art converted at Antioch. AND the apostles and brethren, who were in Judea, heard that the gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, 3 Saying: Why didst thou go in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them? 14 Who shall speak to thee words, whereby thou shalt be saved, and all thy house. 15 And when I had begun to speak, the Holy Ghost fell upon them, as upon us also in the begin ning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how that he said: John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. 17 If then God gave them the same grace, as to us also who believed in the Lord JESUS CHRIST : who was I, that could withstand God? 4 But Peter began and declared to them the matter in order, saying: 5 I was in the city of Joppe pray- 18 Having heard these things, they ing, and I saw in an ecstasy of mind held their peace: and glorified God, a vision,a certain vessel descending, saying: God then hath also to the as it were a great sheet let down gentiles given repentance unto life. from heaven by four corners, and it | 19 Now they who had been dis came even unto me. 6 Into which looking I considered, and saw four-footed creatures of the earth, and beasts, and creeping things and fowls of the air. 7 And I heard also a voice saying to me: Arise, Peter, kill, and eat. 8 And I said: Not so, Lord; for persed, by the persecution that arose on occasion of Stephen, went about as far as Phenice and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none, but to the Jews only. 20 But some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who when they were entered into Antioch spoke also to the Greeks, preaching the Lord JESUS. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believing was converted to the Lord. 22 And the tidings came to the ears of the church that was at Jerusalem, touching these things; and they sent Barnabas as far asAntioch. 23 Who when he was come, and had seen the grace of God, rejoiced: and he exhorted them all with purpose of heartto continue in the Lord. 24 For he was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith. And a great multitude was added to the Lord. 25 And Barnabas went to Tarsus, to seek Saul: whom when he had found, he brought to Antioch, 26 And they conversed there in the church a whole year; and they taught a great multitude, so that at Antioch the disciples were first named CHRISTIANS. 27 And in these days there came prophets fromJerusalem to Antioch. 28 And one of them named Agabus, rising up signified by the Spirit that there should be a great famine over the whole world, which came to pass under Claudius. 29 And the disciples, every man according to his ability, purposed to send relief to the brethren who dwelt in Judea : 30 Which also they did, sending it to the ancients by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. CHAP. XII. Herod's persecution. AND at the same time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to afflict some of the church. 4 And when he had apprehended him,he cast him into prison, delivering him to four files of soldiers to be kept, intending after the pasch to bring him forth to the people. 5 Peter therefore was kept in prison. But prayer was made without ceasing by the church unto God for him. 6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains : and the keepers before the door kept the prison. 7 And behold an Angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shined in the room: and he striking Peter on the side raised him up, saying: Arise quickly. And the chains fell off from his hands. 8 And the Angel said to him Gird thyself, and put on thy sandals. And he did so. And he said to him: Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. 9 And going out he followed him, and he knew not that it was true which was done by the Angel: but thought he saw a vision. 10 And passing through the first and the second ward, they came to the iron gate that leadeth to the city, which of itself opened to them. And going out, they passed on through one street: and immediately the Angel departed from him. 11 And Peter coming to himself, said: Now I know in very deed that the Lord hath sent his Angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. 12 And considering, he came to 2 And he killed James the bro-the house of Mary the mother of ther of John with the sword. John, who was surnamed Mark, where many were gathered together and praying. 3 And seeing that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to take up Peter also. Now it was in the days of the azymes. 13 And when he knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel.came to Ver. 3. The Azymes. The festival of the unleavened bread, or the pasch, which answers to our Easter. hearken, whose name was Rhoda. 14 And as soon as she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for joy, but running in she told that Peter stood before the gate. 15 But they said to her: Thou art mad. But she affirmed that it was so. Then said they: It is his Angel. 16 But Peter continued knocking. And when they had opened, they saw him, and were astonished. 17 But he beckoning to them with his hand to hold their peace, told how the Lord had brought him out of prison, and he said: Tell these things to James and to the brethren. And going out he went into another place. 18 Now when day was come, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter. 19 And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not; having examined the keepers,he commanded they should be put to death and going down from Judea to Cesarea, he abode there. 20 And he was angry with the Tyrians and the Sidonians. But they with one accord came to him, and having gained Blastus who was the king's chamberlain, they desired peace because their countries were nourished by him. 21 And upon a day appointed, Herod being arrayed in kingly apparel, sat in the judgment-seat, and made an oration to them. 22 And the people made acclamation saying: It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. CHAP. XIII. Saul and Barnabas are sent forth. which was at Antioch, prophets OW there were in the church and doctors among whom was Barnabas, and Simon, who was called Nigar, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manahen, who was the foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 And as they were ministering to the Lord, and fasting, the Holy Ghost said to them: Separate me Saul and Barnabas, for the work whereunto I have taken them. 3 Then they fasting and praying, and imposing their hands upon them, sent them away. 4 So they being sent by the Holy Ghost, went to Selucia, and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. 5 And when they were come to Salamina, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John also in their ministry. 6 And when they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a certain man a magician, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesu. 7 Who was with the pro-consul Sergius Paulus a prudent man. He sending for Barnabas and Saul, desired to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the magician (for so his name is interpreted) withstood them, seeking to turn away the pro-consul from the faith. 9 Then Saul, otherwise Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost, looking upon him, 23 And forthwith an Angel of the 10 Said: O full of all guile, and Lord struck him, because he had of all deceit, child of the devil, enenot given the honour to God: and my of all justice, thou ceasest not being eaten up by worms, he gave to pervert the right ways of the up the ghost. Lord. 24 But the word of the Lord increased and multiplied. 11 And now behold the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou 25 And Barnabas and Saul re- shalt be blind, not seeing the sun turned from Jerusalem, having ful- for a time. And immediately there filled their ministry, taking with fell a mist and darkness upon him, themJohn who was surnamedMark. and going about he sought some one to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the pro-consul, when he had seen what was done, believed admiring at the doctrine of the Lord. 13 Now when Paul and they that were with him had sailed from Paphos, they came to Perge in Pamphilia. And John_departing from them, returned to Jerusalem. cording to his promise hath raised up to Israel a saviour, JESUS. 24 John first preaching before his coming the baptism of penance to all the people of Israel. 25 And when John was fulfilling. his course, he said: I am not. he, whom you think me to be; but behold there cometh one after me, 14 But they passing through whose shoes of his feet I am not Perge, came to Antioch in Pisi-worthy to loose. down. dia and entering into the syna- 26 Men brethren, children of the gogue on the sabbath-day, they sat stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you fear God, to you the 15 And after the reading of the word of this salvation is sent. law and the prophets, the rulers of 27 For they that inhabit Jeruthe synagogue sent to them, say-salem, and the rulers thereof, not ing: Ye men brethren, if you have knowing him, nor the voices of the any word of exhortation to make to prophets which are read every sabthe people, speak. bath, judging him have fulfilled them. 16 Then Paul rising up, and with his hands bespeaking silence, said: Ye men of Israel, and you that fear God, give ear. 17 The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they were sojourners in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought them out from thence. 18 And for the space of forty years endured their manners in the desert... 19 And destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, divided their land among them, by lot. 20 As it were after four hundred and fifty years; and after these things he gave unto them judges, until Samuel the prophet. 21 And after that they desired a king: and God gave them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, forty years. 22 And when he had removed him, he raised them up David to bo king: to whom giving testimony, he said: I have found David the son of Jesse, a man according to my own heart, who shall do all my wills. 23 of this man's seed God ac 28 And finding no cause of death in him, they desired of Pilate, that they might kill him. 29 And when they had fulfilled all things that were written of him, taking him down from the tree,they laid him in a sepulchre, 30 But God raised him up from the dead the third day: 31 Who was seen for many days, by them who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who to this present are his witnesses to the people. 32 And we declare unto you that the promise, which was made to our fathers, 33 This same God hath fulfilled to our children, raising up JESUS, as in the second Psalm also is written: Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee, 4 34 And to shew that he raised him up from the dead not to return now any more to corruption, he said thus: I will give you the holy things of David faithful. 35 And therefore in another place also he saith; Thou shalt not suffer thy holy one to see corruption. 36 For David when he had served |