his hands to trouble certain of the church. 2. He killed James, John's brother, with the sword. 3. And, because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to take Peter also (at the passover). Then were the days of unleavened bread. 4. And apprehending him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to sixteen soldiers to keep him, intending after the passover to bring him forth to the people. 5. Peter then was kept in prison; but prayer was made without ceasing by the church to God for him.

6. The same night that Herod would have brought him forth, he was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains; and the keepers before the door guarded the prison. 7. But, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison; and he smote Peter on the side, and awoke him, saying, Arise quickly. Then his chains fell off from his hands. 8. Now the angel said to him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals; and he did so. Then he saith to him, Cast thy mantle about thee, and follow me.

9. And going out, he followed him, but knew not that what was done by the angel was a reality; but thought he saw a vision. 10. Having passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of itself; so being gone out, and having passed one street, forthwith the angel left him.

11. And Peter being come to himself, said, Now I know assuredly, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and delivered me from Herod's hand, and from the expectation of all the Jewish people.

12. And considering the matter, he came to the. house of Mary the mother of John, surnamed Mark; where many were assembled praying. 13. And as Peter knocked at the door of the porch, a damsel, named Rhoda, came to ask, Who's there. 14. And knowing Peter's voice, she opened not the

gate for

gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate. 15. But they said to her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed it. Then said they, It is his angel. 16. But Peter continued knocking: and they opening the door, saw him, and were astonished. 17. But he beckoning to them with the hand to be silent, declared to them how the Lord brought him out of the prison. Then he said, Declare these things to James, and the brethren. Then he departed to another place.

18. Now, when it was day, there was no small trouble among the soldiers, about what was become of Peter. 19. And Herod having sought him, and not found him, examined the keepers, and commanded to slay them. Then he went down from Judea, and abode in Cesarea.

20. Then Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon; but they came with one consent to him; and, having made Blastus, the king's chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king's country.

21. And on a day appointed, Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne, and made an oration to them. 22. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. 23. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten by worms, and expired.

24. But the word of God grew and multiplied.

25. And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.

CHAP. XIII.

PAUL AND BARNABAS CHOSEN.

Now there were in the church at Antioch cer.

tain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, Simon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3. And having fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

4. So they being sent forth by the Holy Spirit, departed to Seleucia; and thence they sailed to Cyprus. 5. And being at Salamis they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: they had John also for their attendant.

6. And having gone through the isle to Paphos, they found a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet, named Bar-jesus; 7. Who was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a wise man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, desiring to hear the word of God. 8. But Elymas the magician, for so his name is interpreted, withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.

9. Then Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, earnestly beheld him, 10.. And said, O full of all subtilty, and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness! wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? 11. And now, Behold the hand of the Lord is upon thee; and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

12. Then the deputy seeing what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

13. Now Paul and his company, having loosed from Paphos, came to Perga in Pamphylia; but John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.

14. But after leaving Perga they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the

sabbath-day, and sat down. 15. And, after the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, Brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, speak.

16. Then Paul stood up, and, beckoning with his hand, said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, hearken. 17. The God of this people, chose our fathers, and increased the people when sojourning in Egypt, and with a mighty hand brought them out of it. 18. And about the space of forty years, he bare and nourished them in the wilderness. 19. And having destroyed seven nations in Chanaan, (for their wickedness), he divided their land to them by lot. 20. And after that he gave to them judges, about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. 21. And afterward they desired a king; and God gave to them Saul the son of Cis, of Benjamin's tribe, during forty years. 22. And having removed him, he raised up to them David for a king; to whom also he gave testimony, saying, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man (who will rule the people) after mine own heart, who will do all my will (in the civil government and divine worship.)

23. Of this man's seed hath God, according to his promise, raised up to Israel a Saviour, Jesus; 24. John having preached, before his appearing, the baptism of repentance to all Israel; 25. As he fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, lo, he cometh after me, whose shoes I am not worthy to loose.

26. Brethren, Abraham's race, whoever among you fears God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. 27. For because they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets who are read every sabbath, they fulfilled them in condemning him. 28. And tho' they found no cause of death in him, yet they

desired Pilate to have him slain. 29. And having fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the cross, and laid him in a sepulchre. 30. But God raised him from the dead; 31. And he was seen many days of them who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses to the people. 32, 33. And we declare to you glad tidings, that God hath fulfilled the promise made to the fathers, to us their children, by rais ing up Jesus; as it is written in the second Psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee (from the dead.) 34. And because he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said thus, I will give you the sure mercies promised to David. 35. Therefore he saith also in another Psalm, (xvi.) Thou shalt not suffer thine holy One to see corruption. 36. For David, after having in his own age served the will of God fell asleep, and being laid to his fathers, saw corruption: 37. But he whom God raised (from the dead) saw no corruption.

38. Be it known to you, therefore, brethren, that thro' him is preached to you forgiveness of sins: 39. And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified (and acquitted) by the law of Moses. 40. Beware, therefore, lest what is spoken by the prophets come upon you; 41. Behold, ye scorners, and wonder, and perish; for I perform a work in your days, which ye shall not believe, tho' it be declared to you, (Lam. iv. 12.)

42. Now as they went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles desired these words to be preached to them before the next sabbath.

43. Now, as the congregation was dismissed, many Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the (gospel of the) grace of God.