a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had 28 come to Jerusalem for to worship; and he was return ing and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the pro29 phet Isaiah. And the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, 30 and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, 31 Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some one shall guide me? And he 32 besought Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the place of the scripture which he was reading was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; 33 And as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, In his humiliation his judgement was taken away: For his life is taken from the earth. 34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh_the prophet this? of himself, or of 35 some other? And Philip opened his mouth, and begin36 ning from this scripture, preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on the way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch saith, Behold, here is water; what doth 38 hinder me to be baptized? And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized 39 him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached the gospel to all the cities, till he came to Cæsarea. 9 But Saul, yet breathing threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high 2 priest, and asked of him letters to Damascus unto the synagogues, that if he found any that were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to 3 Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, it came to pass that he drew nigh unto Damascus: and suddenly there shone 4 round about him a light out of heaven: and he fell upon the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, 5 Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, 6 Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: but rise, and enter into the city, and 7 it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men that journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing the 8 voice, but beholding no man. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing; and they led him by the hand, and brought him into 9 Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and did neither eat nor drink. 10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said unto him in a vision, Ana11 nias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus: for behold, he pray12 eth; and he hath seen a man named Ananias coming in, and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his 13 sight. But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many of this man, how much evil he did to thy saints 14 at Jerusalem: and here he hath authority from the chief 15 priests to bind all that call upon thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and 16 kings, and the children of Israel: for I will shew him how many things he must suffer for my name's sake. 17 And Ananias departed, and entered into the house; and laying his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, who appeared unto thee in the way which thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mayest receive thy 18 sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he 19 received his sight; and he arose and was baptized; and he took food and was strengthened. And he was certain days with the disciples which 20 were at Damascus. And straightway in the synagogues 21 he proclaimed Jesus, that he is the Son of God. And all that heard him were amazed, and said, Is not this he that in Jerusalem made havock of them which called on this name? and he had come hither for this intent, that he might bring them bound before the chief priests. 22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ. 23 And when many days were fulfilled, the Jews took 24 counsel together to kill him: but their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates also day 25 and night that they might kill him: but his disciples took him by night, and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket. 26 And when he was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: and they were all afraid of 27 him, not believing that he was a disciple. But Barna bas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and de clared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus 38 he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. And he was with them going in and going out at Jerusalem, 29 preaching boldly in the name of the Lord: and he spake and disputed against the Grecian Jews; but they went 30 about to kill him. And when the brethren knew it, they brought him down to Cæsarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus. 31 32 So the church throughout all Judæa and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being edified; and, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, was multiplied. And it came to pass, as Peter went throughout all parts, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at 33 Lydda. And there he found a certain man named Eneas, which had kept his bed eight years; for he was 34 palsied. And Peter said unto him, Eneas, Jesus Christ healeth thee: arise, and make thy bed. And straight 35 way he arose. And all that dwelt at Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. 1. 36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation, is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which 37 she did. And it came to pass in those days, that she fell sick, and died and when they had washed her, they 38 laid her in an upper chamber. And as Lydda was nigh unto Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men unto him, intreating him, Delay not to 39 come on unto us. And Peter arose and went with them. And when he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas 40 made, while she was with them. But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning to the body, he said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her 41 eyes; and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand, and raised her up; and calling the saints 42 and widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa: and many believed on the 43 Lord. And it came to pass, that he abode many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner. 10 Now there was a certain man in Cæsarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, 2 a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, who gave much alms to the people, and prayed 3 to God alway. He saw in a vision openly, as it were about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming 4 in unto him, and saying to him, Cornelius. And he, fastening his eyes upon him, and being affrighted, said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are gone up for a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa, and fetch one Simon, who 6 is surnamed Peter: he lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, 7 whose house is by the sea side. And when the angel that spake unto him was departed, he called two of his household-servants, and a devout soldier of them that 8 waited on him continually; and having rehearsed all things unto them, he sent them to Joppa. 9 Now on the morrow, as they were on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the 10 housetop to pray, about the sixth hour: and he became hungry, and desired to eat: but while they made ready, 11 he fell into a trance; and he beholdeth the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth: 12 wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts and creep13 ing things of the earth and fowls of the heaven. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill and eat. 14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten 15 any thing that is common and unclean. And a voice came unto him again the second time, What God hath 16 cleansed, make not thou common. And this was done thrice: and straightway the vessel was received up into heaven. 17 Now while Peter was much perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men that were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry 18 for Simon's house, stood before the gate, and called and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were 19 lodging there. And while Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. 20 But arise, and get thee down, and go with them, noth21 ing doubting: for I have sent them. And Peter went down to the men, and said, Behold, I am he whom ye 22 seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come? And they said, Cornelius a centurion, a righteous man and one that feareth God, and well reported of by all the nation of the Jews, was warned of God by a holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words from 23 thee. So he called them in and lodged them. And on the morrow he arose and went forth with them, and certain of the brethren from Joppa accom 24 panied him. And on the morrow they entered into Cæsarea. And Cornelius was waiting for them, having 25 called together his kinsmen and his near friends. And when it came to pass that Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. 26 But Peter raised him up, saying, Stand up; I myself 27 also am a man. And as he talked with him, he went 28 in, and findeth many come together: and he said unto them, Ye yourselves know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to join himself or come unto one of another nation; and yet unto me hath God shewed that I should not call any man common or 29 unclean: wherefore also I came without gainsaying, when I was sent for. I ask therefore with what intent 30 ye sent for me. And Cornelius said, Four days ago, until this hour, I was keeping the ninth hour of prayer in my house; and behold, a man stood before me in 31 bright apparel, and saith, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the 32 sight of God. Send therefore to Joppa, and call unto thee Simon, who is surnamed Peter; he lodgeth in the 33 house of Simon a tanner, by the sea side. Forthwith therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God, to hear all things that have been 34 commanded thee of the Lord. And Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of per35 sons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and 36 worketh righteousness, is acceptable to him. The word which he sent unto the children of Israel, preaching good tidings of peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all) 37 that saying ye yourselves know, which was published throughout all Judæa, beginning from Galilee, after the 38 baptism which John preached; even Jesus of Nazareth, how that God anointed him with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with 39 him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; 40 whom also they slew, hanging him on a tree. Him God raised up the third day, and gave him to be made mani41 fest, not to all the people, but unto witnesses that were chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink 42 with him after he rose from the dead. And he charged us to preach unto the people, and to testify that this is he which is ordained of God to be the Judge of quick an |