§ 45. St. Peter and the other Apostles set an example of what is often called disloyalty, by obeying Jesus Christ in preference to the authorities of their own country. Remarkable warning of the Pharisee Gamaliel. The first martyrdom and the first persecution.

A signal judgment of God, in which Ananias, and Sapphira his wife, who had attempted to deceive the Church, fell suddenly dead at St. Peter's feet, added to the many miracles which were wrought, and to the boldness of their preaching, began to produce such effects upon the people, that the sick were brought into the streets in order that the shadow of Peter as he came by might overshadow them. Multitudes also flocked together from the neighbouring cities, until the jealousy and rage of the high-priest and of the party of the Sadducees at length rose to such a height, that they seized all the Apostles and put them in the common prison. An angel of the Lord, however, by night opened the doors of the prison, and leading them out, said, 'Go and stand in the Temple, and speak to the people the words of this life.'

In the morning, when the high-priest and his council had sent for the Apostles to be brought before them out of the prison, the officers returned with the intelligence, 'that they found the doors of the prison shut, but no man within.' And as they were wondering and doubting what would come to pass, a messenger came and told them that the men whom they sought were in the Temple teaching.

The high-priest thereupon sent the keeper of the Temple with a guard, and without using any violence they brought the Apostles before the council. Here St. Peter, on being questioned how he came to dare to disregard the prohibition he had received, replied:

'WE MUST OBEY GOD RATHER THAN MEN. The God of our fathers hath raised up Jesus, whom you put to death, hanging Him upon a tree. Him hath God exalted with His right hand, to be a Prince and Saviour, to give repentance to Israel; and we are witnesses of these things, and the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to all that obey Him.'

When they had heard these words, they were cut to the heart, and thought to put them to death. But one in the council rising up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, respected by all the people, commanded the men to be put forth a little while, and he said to them:

THE WARNING OF THE PHARISEE GAMALIEL.

Ye men of Israel, take heed to your- | drew away the people after him: he also selves what you intend to do, as touching perished; and all, even as many as conthese men. sented to him, were dispersed.

For before these days rose up Theodas, affirming himself to be somebody, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all that believed him were scattered and brought to nothing.

After this man rose up Judas of Galilee, in the days of the enrolling, and

And now, therefore, I say to you, refrain from these men, and let them alone; for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to naught.

But if it be of God, you cannot overthrow it, lest perhaps you be found even to fight against God. And they consented to him.

And calling in the Apostles, they scourged them, and charged them to speak no more in this name. But they, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Jesus, ceased not every day, in the Temple, and from house to house, to teach and to preach Jesus Christ.

The Apostles had by this time found it necessary to institute the order of Deacons, and had chosen seven men to be the first to receive the new order. Stephen, one of the seven, being full of grace and strength, began to do great signs and wonders among the people. And when certain Jews of Alexandria, and other cities of Asia, attempted to dispute with him, and were not able to resist the spirit with which he spake, they suborned witnesses and stirred up the council against him. Stephen was thus brought before the council, and the false witnesses said, We have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the traditions which Moses delivered unto us. Then the high-priest said, Are these things so? Then all that sat in the council, looking on Stephen, saw his face as it were the face of an angel.

In his speech before the council St. Stephen recapitulates the whole history of Israel, from the first call of Abraham downwards; and when, in conclusion, he accused the members of the council of always resisting the Holy Ghost, as their fathers had done, and of being the betrayers and murderers of the Just One, of whose coming their prophets had foretold, then hearing these things, as St. Luke relates, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed with their teeth at him.

But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looking up steadfastly to heaven, saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. And he said: Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. And they crying out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and with one accord ran violently upon him. And casting him forth without the city, they stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, invoking, and saying: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And falling on his knees, he cried with a loud voice, saying: Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep in the Lord. And Saul was consenting to his death.

At that time, St. Luke relates, there was raised a great persecution against the Church which was at Jerusalem, and they were all dispersed through the countries of Judea and Samaria except the Apostles. For Saul made havoc of the Church, entering in from house to house, and dragging away men and women committed them to prison. They, therefore, that were dispersed abroad went about preaching the word of God.

St. Stephen's martyrdom was the first-fruits of the white-robed martyrs who have offered up their lives for the truths of faith, and whose number is not yet complete. And the persecution here recorded was in the same way the first-fruits of the long lists of sufferings that have fallen to the portion of the faithful in consequence of the profession of their

faith, the measure of which is also in like manner not as yet filled up. The example of St. Stephen will not be lost as regards the light it throws upon the general design of God in permitting persecution to fall upon His elect, and, it may be hoped, it will afford our readers a seasonable help towards learning how to appreciate the various trials and sufferings of the Church that we must be prepared to meet with in the progress of our history.

46. The conversion of St. Paul, and his presentation to the Apostles in Jerusalem.

And Saul, as yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high-priest, and asked of him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues: that if he found any men and women of this way, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. And as he went on his journey, it came to pass that he drew nigh to Damascus : and suddenly a light from heaven shined round about him. And falling on the ground he heard a voice saying to him: Saul, Saul, why persecutest

SAUL JOURNEYING TO DAMASCUS IS CONVERTED ON THE WAY.

thou Me? Who said: Who art Thou, Lord? And He said: I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick against the goad.

And he trembling and astonished, said: Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do? And the Lord said to him: Arise, and go into the city, and there it shall be told thee what thou must do. Now the men who went in company with him stood amazed, hearing indeed a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the ground; and when his eyes were opened he saw nothing. But they leading him by the hands brought him to Damascus. And he was there three days without sight, and he did neither eat nor drink. Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision : Ananias. And he said: Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said to him: Arise, and go into the street that is called Strait, and seek in the house of Judas one named Saul of Tarsus. For behold he prayeth. (And he saw a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hands upon him that he might receive his sight.) But Ananias answered: Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to Thy saints in Jerusalem. And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that invoke Thy name. And the Lord said to him: Go thy way; for this man is to Me a vessel of election, to carry My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him. how great things he must suffer for My name's sake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house. And laying his hands upon him, he said: Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus hath sent me, He that appeared to thee in the way as thou camest, that thou mayest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight: and rising up, he was baptised. And when he had taken meat, he was strengthened. And he was with the disciples that were at Damascus for some days. And immediately he preached Jesus in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. And all that heard him were astonished, and said: Is not this he who persecuted in Jerusalem those that called upon this name, and came hither for that intent, that he might carry them bound to the chief priests? But Saul increased much more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt at Damascus, affirming that this is the Christ. And when many days were passed, the Jews consulted together to kill him. But their laying in wait was made known to Saul. And they watched the gates also day and night, that they might kill him. But the disciples taking him in the night, conveyed him away by the wall, letting him down in a basket. And when he was come into Jerusalem, he essayed to join himself to the disciples; and they all were afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the Apostles, and told them how he had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken to him; and how in Damascus he had dealt confidently in the name of Jesus. And he was with them coming in and going out in Jerusalem, and dealing confidently in the name of the Lord. He spoke also to the Gentiles, and disputed with the Greeks; but they sought to kill him. Which, when the brethren had

known, they brought him down to Cesarea, and sent him away to Tarsus. Now the Church had peace throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria; and was edified, walking in the fear of the Lord, and was filled with the consolation of the Holy Ghost.

§ 47. The vision of St. Peter, and the first Gentile convert Cornelius.

As yet the converts to the doctrines of the Apostles were all from the single nation of the Jews, but the time was now come when St. Peter was to be reminded that, by the terms of their mission, both he and the other Apostles were sent not to one but to all the nations, and that, not to make disciples merely of the Jews who were dispersed among them, but of the people themselves of those nations. This was brought about in the following manner: A certain Roman centurion, named Cornelius, a religious man, who feared God and gave much alms to the people, saw in a vision as he was praying an angel, who directed him to send to Joppa, for one Simon, surnamed Peter, who would tell him what he was to do. In the mean time, as the messengers of Cornelius were on their way to Joppa, Peter was also praying on the house-top; and becoming hungry while they were preparing for him, there came upon him an ecstasy of mind. And he saw the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as it were a great linen sheet let down by the four corners from heaven to the earth, wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts, and creeping