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On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon 10 the house-top (b) to pray, about the sixth hour (c). And

he became very hungry, and would have eaten : but 11 while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And faw heaven opened, and a certain veffel defcending unto him, as it had been a great sheet, knit at the 12 four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of four-footed beafts of the earth, and wild beafts, and creeping things, and fowls of 13 the air. And there came a voice to him, Rife, Pe14 ter; kill, and cat. But Peter faid, Not fo, Lord:

for I have never eaten any thing that is common or 15 unclean (d). And the voice pake unto him again the

fecond time, What God hath cleanfed, that call not 16 thou common. This was done thrice: and the vef17 fel was received up again into heaven. Now while Peter doubted in himfelf what this vifion which he had feen, fhould mean; behold, the men which were fent from Cornelius, had made enquiry for Simon's 18 houfe, and ftood before the gate, And called, and afked whether Simon, which was furnamed Peter, were lodged there.

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While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit faid 20 unto him, Behold, three men feek thee. Arife there

fore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubt21 ing nothing: for I have fent them. Then Peter went down to the men which were fent unto him from Cornelius; and faid, Behold, I am he whom ye feek what is the cause wherefore ye are come? 22 And they faid, Cornelius the centurion, a just man,, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by

(b) See Matt. x. 27.

(c) The fixth hour was twelve o'clock at noon..

(d) By common food the Jews meant fuch as was eaten by the Gentiles, but forbidden by the law of Mofes to the Jews, to whom. it was therefore unclean..

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an holy angel, to fend for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee. Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren (e) from Joppa ac24 companied him. And the morrow after they entered into Cefarea: and Cornelius waited for them, and. had called together his kinfmen and near friends. 25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, 26 and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, faying, Stand up (f); I myself. 27 alfo am a man. And as he talked with him, he went 28 in, and found many that were come together. And he faid unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew, to keep company, or come unto one of another nation: but God hath fhewed me, that I fhould not call any man common. 29 or unclean (g). Therefore came I unto you without gainfaying, as foon as I was fent for: I afk therefore for what intent ye have fent for me? And Cornelius faid, Four days ago I was fafting until this hour (b),. and at the ninth hour I prayed in my houfe, and behold, a man stood before me in bright cloathing,, 31 And faid, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the fight of God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon whose. furname is Peter; he is lodged in the houfe of one Simon a tanner, by the fea-fide; who when he com33 eth, fhall speak unto thee. Immediately therefore I fent to thee; and thou haft well done that thou art

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(e) Certain brethren; that is, certain fellow-chriftians.

(f) Obferve here that St. Peter refufed to be worshipped; nor can he be fuppofed in his glorified ftate to defire, or accept, that worship which he intimates in this paffage ought to be paid to God alone, and not to man or any creature.

(g) See John iv. 9. xviii. 28.

(h) That hour being the fixth or noon, the ninth was three o'clock after noon.

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come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.

Then Peter opened his mouth, and faid, Of a truth I perceive that God is no refpecter of perfons: 35 But in every nation, he that feareth him, and work36 eth righteoufnefs, is accepted with him. The word which God fent unto the children of Ifrael, preaching peace (i) by Jefus Chrift, (he is Lord of all) 37 That word (fay), you know (k), which was published throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after 38 the baptifm which John preached: How God anointed Jefus of Nazareth with the holy Ghoft, and with power; who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppreffed of the devil: for God was 39 with him. And we are witneffes of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerufalem; whom they flew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and fhewed him openly, 41 Not to all the people, but unto witneffes, chofen be

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fore of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with 42 him after he rofe from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to teftify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the judge of 43 quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witnefs, that through his name whofoever believeth in him fhall receive remiffion of fins.

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While Peter yet fpake thefe words, the holy Ghoft 45 fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcifion which believed, were aftonished, as many as came with Peter, becaufe that on the Gentiles alfo was poured out the gift of the holy 46 Ghoft. For they heard them fpeak with tongues, 47 and magnify God. Then anfwered Peter, Can any

(i) Peace fignifies forgiveness, and reconciliation with God. (4) They had at least heard of it, it being every where preached.

man

man forbid water (1), that thefe fhould not be baptized, which have received the holy Ghoft, as well as 48 we? we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

CHA P. XI.

I AND the apoftles and brethren that were in Judea,

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heard that the Gentiles had alfo received the

2 word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerufalem, they that were of the circumcifion contended with him, Saying, Thou wenteft in to men 4 uncircumcifed (a), and didft eat with them. Eut Peter rehearfed the matter from the beginning, and 5 expounded (b) it by order unto them, faying, I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I faw a vifion, A certain veffel defcend, as it had been a great fheet, let down from heaven by four corners; 6 and it came even to me. Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I confidered, and faw fourfooted beafts of the earth, and wild beafts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And I heard a voice 8 faying unto me, Arife, Peter; flay, and eat. But I faid, Not fo, Lord: for nothing common or unclean

(2) Water baptifin, you fee, is neceffary, even after receiving the holy Ghoft.

(a) The Chriftians who had been converted from Judaism, took upon them to call St. Peter to account.

But would they have dared to do this, and to contend with him, had he then been acknowledged for fupreme head of the church, and infallible judge of controverfies? That doctrine was certainly unknown in thole days. Nor doth St. Peter's conduct countenance fuch an opinion; for inftead of filencing them by his authority, he patiently pleads his caufe before them, and convinceth their underlanding by his reafoning.

Obferve the mifchief of narrow prejudices in matters of religion. Men who are blinded with partiality to their own fect, are apt to condemn others for the moft inocent and laudable actions. (6) Regularly expounded the feveral particulars.

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9 hath at any time entered into my mouth. But the voice anfwered me again from heaven, What God 10 hath cleanfed, that call not thou common. And this

was done three times and all were drawn up again II into heaven. And behold, immediately there were

three men already come unto the houfe where I was, 12 fent from Cefarea unto me. And the Spirit bade me

go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover, thefe fix brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the 13 man's houfe (c); And he fhewed us how he had feen an angel in his houfe, which stood and said unto him, fend men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whofe 14 furname is Peter: Who fhall tell thee words, where15 by thou and all thy houfe fhall be faved. And as I

began to fpeak, the holy Ghoft fell on them, as on 16 us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he faid, John indeed baptized with water; but ye fhall be baptized with the holy 17 Ghoft. Forafmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jefus Chrift, what was I that I could withstand God? 18 When they heard thefe things, they held their peace, and glorified God, faying, Then hath God alfo to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life (d).

19 Now they which were fcattered abroad upon the perfecution that arofe about Stephen, travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the 20 word to none but unto the Jews only (e). And fome of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which when they were come to Antioch, fpake unto 21 the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jefus. And the hand of the Lord (f) was with them and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.

(c) See Chap. x. 23.

(d) Without requiring them to keep the law of Mofes. (e) See Chap. viii. 4.

(f) The hand of the Lord is the power of working miracles.

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