in a vision, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in to him, and saying, Cornelius. 4. But looking steadfastly at him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? Then he said to him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. 5. Now send to Joppa, to call for Simon, surnamed Peter; 6. He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, by the sea-side; he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

7. Now the angel who spake to Cornelius being departed, he called two of his domestics, and a religious soldier of them that waited on him continually; 8. And declaring all to them, he sent them to Joppa.

9. Next day, as they journeyed and drew nigh to the city, Peter went up on the house-top to pray, about the sixth hour. 10. And becoming very hungry, he would have eaten; but, while they made ready, he fell into a trance, 11. And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending to him, as if it had been a great sheet tied at the four corners, and let down to the earth; 12. Wherein were all kinds of four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 13. And a voice came to him, saying, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

14. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 15. But the voice spake to him again, What God hath declared clean, call not thou unclean. 16. This was done thrice; and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

17. Now, while Peter doubted what this vision meant; behold, the men who were sent from Cornelius enquired for Simon's house, and stood before the gate, 18. Calling and asking whether Simon, surnamed Peter, lodged there.

19. While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said to him, Behold, three men seek thee.

20. Therefore go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.

21. Then Peter went down to them, and said, Lo, I am he whom ye seek; for what cause are ye come? 22. Then they said, Cornelius the centu rion, a charitable man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, (Luke vii. 5.) was warned from God by a holy angel to send for thee to his house, and to hear thy words. 23. Then he called them, and lodged them. And next day went away with them, accompanied with certain brethren from Joppa. 24. And the day after they entered into Cesarea. Now Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.

25. ¶ Now, as Peter came in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet to worship him. 26. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I my

self also am a man.

27. And talking with him, he went in, and found many come together. 28. Then he said to them, Ye know it is unlawful for a Jew to join with, or come near one of another nation: but God hath shewed me, that I should call no man' common or unclean. 29. Therefore I came to you without gainsaying, when sent for; I ask, then, why ye sent for me?

30. Then Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting till this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31. Who said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are remembered before God. 32. Send, therefore, to Joppa, and call hither Simon, surnamed Peter; he lodgeth in one Simon a tanner's house, by the sea-side; who, being come, shall speak to thee. 33. Therefore, immediately I sent to thee; and thou hast done well to come. Now, therefore, we are all here

present before God, to hear all things that God hath commanded thee.

34. Then Peter began, saying, Truly I perceive that God is no respecter of persons; 35. But in every nation, he who fears him, and works righteousness is accepted with him. 36. The word which God sent to the Israelites, preaching peace by Jesus Christ; who is Lord of all; 37. Ye know was published throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38. How God endowed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power; who went about doing good, healing all those oppressed by the devil; for God was with him. 39. And we are witnesses of all things which he did, both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew by hanging on a cross. 40. God raised him the third day, and manifested him; 41. Not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who ate and drank with him after his resurrection, 42. Whom he commanded to preach to the people, and to testify that he was ordained of God to be the Judge of the living and the dead. 43. To him give all the prophets a testimony, that, through his atonement, whoever believeth in him shall re- ceive remission of sins.

44. While Peter was speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word.

45. Now they of the circumcision who believed and accompanied Peter, were astonished, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Gentiles also. 46. For they heard them speaking different languages, and magnifying God. Then Peter said, 47. Can any forbid water that these should be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we? 48. So he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they intreated him to stay certain days.

CHAP. XI.

PETER MAKETH HIS DEFENCE.

Now the apostles and brethren in Judea heard that the Gentiles also received the word of God. 2. And when Peter came to Jerusalem, they of the circumcision contended with him, 3. Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. 4. But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounding it in order to them, said, 5. I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance saw a vision: A certain vessel descend, like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; which came even to me: 6. On which, looking stedfastly, I observed four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 7. And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. 8. But I said, Not so, Lord; for nothing common or unclean hath ever entered into my mouth. 9. But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, call not thou common. 10. And this was done three times; then all were drawn up again into heaven. 11. And, behold, three men sent from Cesarea to me, were come to the house where I was. 12. And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover, these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house: 13. Who related to us how he had seen an angel in his house, who said to him, Send to Joppa, to call for Simon, surnamed Peter, 14. Who shall speak to thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. 15. And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them as on us at the beginning. 16. Then I remembered what the Lord said, John indeed baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit. 17. Now as God gave to them the like gift as to P p

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us who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, how could I withstand God?

18. Hearing these things they were silent, and glorified God, saying, Then God hath also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.

19. Now these scattered abroad by the persecution about Stephen, travelled as far as Phenice, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but the Jews only. 20. And some of them were of Cyprus and Cyrene, who coming to Antioch, spake to the Grecian Jews, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21. Now the power of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned to the Lord.

22. When these things were heard by the church in Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas to go as far as Antioch; 23. Who being come, and seeing the (effects of the) grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all with steadfastness of heart to cleave to the Lord. 24. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith; and many people were added to the Lord.

25. Then Barnabas departed to Tarsus to seek Saul; 26. And, finding him, he brought him to Antioch. And a whole year they assembled with the church, and taught many people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

27. In these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28. One of whom, named Agabus, stood up, and signified by the Spirit, that there would be a great famine throughout all the land; which came to pass in the days of Claudius Cesar.

29. Then each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren in Judea; 30. Which they sent to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

CHAP. XII.

HEROD PERSECUTES THE CHRISTIANS.

ABOUT that time Herod the king stretched forth