rusalem. But when they departed dren, in that he hath raised upJesus; from Perga, they came to Antioch in as it is also written in the second Pisidia, and went into the synagogue psalm, Thou art my son, this day on the sabbath day, and sat down. have I begotten thee. And after reading of the law and the II Be it known to you therefore, prophets the rulers of the synagogue men and brethren, that through this sent to them, saying, Ye men and man is announced to you the forbrethren, if ye have any word of ex-giveness of sins: and by him all that hortation for the people, say on.

8 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience, When John, before his coming, had preached the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel: and as he fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he: behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.

believe are freed from those things, which they could not be freed from by the law of Moses.

12 Beware therefore, lest that come upon you which is spoken of in the prophets; Behold, ye despisers: wonder, and perish! for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it to you.

13 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.

14 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul

9 Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent: for they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they recognized and Barnabas: who, speaking to him not, nor understood the voices of them, persuaded them to continue the prophets which are read every in the grace of God. sabbath day, have condemned him. And though they found nothing deserving of death in him, yet desired. they Pilate that he should be slain. And when they had accomplished

SELECTION IX.

Opposition and persecution begin to be awakened against Paul. AND the next sabbath day came this, they took him down from the almost the whole city together cross, and laid him in a sepulchre. to hear the word of God. But when But God raised him up, and he was the Jews saw the multitudes, they seen during many days of them who were filled with envy, and spake came up with him from Galilee to against those things which were Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses spoken by Paul, contradicting and to the people. blaspheming.

10 And we declare to you glad 2 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed tidings, how that the promise which bold, and said, It was necessary that was made to the fathers, God hath the word of God should first have fulfilled the same to us their chil- been spoken to you: but seeing ye

put it from you, and judge yourselves to Lystra and Derbe, cities of unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we Lycaonia, and to the region that turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the lieth round about: and there they Lord commanded us, saying, I have preached the gospel.

set thee to be a light of the Gentiles,|

8 And the people, when they saw

that thou shouldest be for salvation the cures that Paul wrought, lifted unto the ends of the earth.

3 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of God.

up their voices, saying, in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; 4 And the word of God was pub- and Paul, Mercurius, because he was lished throughout all the region. the chief speaker. And the priest of But the Jews stirred up the devout Jupiter, who was before their city, and honorable women, and the brought oxen and garlands to the chief men of the city, and raised per- gates, and would have offered sacrisecution against Paul and Barnabas, fice with the people. and expelled them out of their coasts. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came to Iconium.

9 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, Sirs, why do ye 5 And the disciples were filled these things? We also are men of with joy, and with the Holy Spirit. like passions with you, and preach 6 And it came to pass in Iconium to you that ye should turn from that they went both together into these vanities to the living God, the synagogue of the Jews, and so who made heaven, and earth, and spake, that a great multitude both the sea, and all things that are thereof the Jews and also of the Greeks in. Who in times past suffered all believed. But the unbelieving Jews nations to walk in their own ways: stirred up the Gentiles, and made nevertheless left not himself without their minds evil affected against the witness, in that he did good, and brethren. Long time, however, gave us rain from heaven, and fruitabode they speaking boldly, with ful seasons, filling our hearts with trust in the Lord, who gave testi- food and gladness. mony to the word of his grace, granting evidences and powers to be wrought by their hands.

IO And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not offered sacrifice to them.

7 But the multitude of the city was divided: part held with the II And there came thither certain Jews, and part with the apostles. Jews from Antioch and Iconium, And when there was an assault made who persuaded the people, and, havboth of the Gentiles, and also of the ing stoned Paul, drew him out of the Jews with their rulers, to use them city, supposing he had been dead. despitefully, and to stone them: Howbeit, as the disciples stood they became aware of it, and fled about him, he rose up and came into

the city and the next day he de- to Jerusalem to the apostles and parted with Barnabas to Derbe. elders about this question.

12 And when they had preached 3 And being brought on their the gospel to that city, and had way by the church, they passed taught many, they returned again to through Phenice and Samaria, declarLystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, ing the conversion of the Gentiles: confirming the souls of the disciples, and they caused great joy to all the and exhorting them to continue in brethren. the faith; and saying that we must through many tribulations enter into the kingdom of God.

13 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

14 And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia and thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been. recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled. And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done through them.

5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, That it was needful to command them to keep the law of Moses. So the apostles and elders came together to consider of this matter.

6 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said to them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, who knoweth the hearts, bare them

15 And there they abode long witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, time with the disciples.

SELECTION X.

The strife about conformity to ordinances, and how it was settled.

even as he did to us; and put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

7 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fa

AND certain men who came down thers nor we were able to bear?

from Judæa taught the brethren, and said, Except ye conform to the ordinances of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Master, Jesus, the same as they.

8 Then all the multitude kept 2 When therefore Paul and Bar- silence, and gave audience to Barnanabas had no small dissension and bas and Paul, declaring what God disputation with them, they deter- (had wrought among the Gentiles by mined that Paul and Barnabas, and them.

certain other of them, should go up 9 And after they had spoken,

James answered, Men and brethren, send chosen men to you with our hearken to me: Symeon hath de- beloved Barnabas and Paul: men that clared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to make them a people for his name.

have hazarded their lives for the name of our Master, Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; that ye abstain from pollutions of idols, and from blood, and from things.

IO And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up : that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, strangled, and from fornication: upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

II Wherefore my advice is, that we trouble not them, who from among the Gentiles are turned to God: but that we write to them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Farewell."

14 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

15 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. And after they had tarried there a space, they were dismissed in peace from the brethren

12 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and to the apostles. Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed 16 Paul and Barnabas however Barsabas, and Silas, chief men continued in Antioch, teaching and among the brethren. And they preaching the word of the Lord, with wrote letters by them after this man

ner:

13 "The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting to the breth

many others also.

SELECTION XI.

Paul and Silas continuing their missionren who are of the Gentiles in An-ary journey are imprisoned, but by their tioch and Syria and Cilicia. Foras- midnight songs of praise and subsequent much as we have heard, that certain teachings convert their jailer and his housewho went out from us have troubled

you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must keep the law of Moses: to whom we gave no such instructions: it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to

hold.

AND a vision appeared to Paul in

the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, beseeching him, and saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.

2 And after he had seen the vision, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew immediately we endeavored to go them into the marketplace to the into Macedonia, assuredly gathering rulers, and brought them to the that the Lord had called us to preach magistrates, saying, These men, being the gospel to them. Therefore loos-Jews, do exceedingly trouble our ing from Troas, we came with a city, and teach customs which are straight course to Samothracia, and not lawful for us to receive, neither the next day to Neapolis; and from to observe, being Romans. thence to Philippi, which is the chief 7 And the multitude rose up tocity of that part of Macedonia, and gether against them: and the magisa colony and we were in that city trates stripped off their clothes, abiding certain days. and commanded to beat them. And 3 And on the sabbath we went when they had laid many stripes out of the city by a river side, where upon them, they cast them into prayer was wont to be made; and prison, charging the jailer to keep we sat down, and spake to the women them safely: who, having received who resorted thither. such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

them.

4 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, who worshipped God, 8 And at midnight Paul and Silas heard us whose heart the Lord prayed, and sang praises to God: opened, that she attended to the and the prisoners were listening to things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

9 And suddenly there was an earthquake, so great that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and the prisoners' hands were loosed.

5 And it came to pass, as we went 10 And the overseer of the prison to prayer, a certain damsel of Del- awaking out of his sleep, and seeing phi met us, who brought her masters the prison doors open, drew his much gain by soothsaying: the same sword, and would have killed himfollowed Paul and us, and cried, self, supposing that the prisoners These men are the servants of the were fled. most high God, who show to us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being annoyed, turned and said, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to be silent. And she ceased her soothsaying from that hour.

6 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone,

II But Paul cried with a loud voice, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out, and said, Masters, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on Jesus as thy Master, and thou shalt be saved,