all inclined to him, great and small, and said, This is the

great Power of Aloha. And they were persuaded by him, because that much time by his sorceries he had astonished them. But when they believed Philipos, who evangelized the kingdom of Aloha in the name of our Lord Jeshu Meshiha, they were baptized, men and women. And Simon also himself believed, and was baptized, and adhered to Philipos. And when he saw the signs and great works which were done by his hands, he wondered and was astonished.

XXII.

AND when the apostles who were at Urishlem heard that the people of the Shomroyee had received the word of Aloha, they sent to them Kipha and Juhanon. And they went down and prayed for them, that they might receive the Spirit of Holiness: for he was not upon one of them yet; but they were only baptized in the name of our Lord Jeshu. Then they laid upon them the hand, and they received the Spirit of Holiness.

And when Simon saw that by the hand-laying of the apostles the Spirit of Holiness was given, he offered to them silver, saying, Give also to me this power, that he on whom I shall lay the hand may receive the Spirit of Holiness. Shemun Kipha said to him, Thy silver go with thee into perdition, because thou thoughtest that the gift of Aloha with the possessions of the world might be obtained. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this faith, because thine heart hath not been right before Aloha. Nevertheless, repent of this thy wickedness, and pray of Aloha, that the guile of thy heart may haply be forgiven thee; for in bitter gall and in the bonds of iniquity I see that thou art. Simon answered and said, Pray you on my behalf, of Aloha, that not any of these things which you have spoken may come upon me.

But Shemun and Juhanon, when they had testified and taught the word of Aloha, returned to Urishlem, and evangelized in many villages of the Shomroyee.

XXIII.

AND the angel of the Lord spake with Philipos, and said to him, Arise, go to the south, in the desert way which goeth down from Urishlem to Gaza. And arising he went. And there met him a certain eunuch 6 who had come from Cush, an officer of Kandak, queen of the Cushoyee; and he was officer over all her treasure. And he had been to worship at Urishlem; and while returning that he might go, he sat in the chariot and read in Eshaia the prophet.

And the Spirit of Holiness said to Philipos, Approach, and join the chariot.

And being near, he heard that he read in Eshaia the prophet; and he said to him, Understandest thou what thou readest?

And he said, How can I understand, unless one teach me? And he prayed of him, of Philipos, to ascend and sit with him.

But the section (phosuka) of the scripture in which he was reading is this:

As a lamb to the slaughter was he led ;

And as a sheep before the shearer is silent,
So opened not he his mouth in his humiliation.
From oppression and from judgment was he led;
And his age who shall recount?

For his life is taken from the earth.

That eunuch said unto Philipos, I pray thee, of whom speaketh this the prophet? of himself, or of another man? Then Philipos opened his mouth and began, from that very scripture, preaching to him concerning our Lord Jeshu.

6 Mahaimna, " a faithful or confidential one."

And as they went in the way they came to a certain place which had water in it, and that eunuch said, Behold the water; what is the hinderance that I shonld be baptized?" And he commanded that the chariot should stand; and they descended both of them to the water, and Philipos baptized that eunuch.

And when they had ascended from the water, the Spirit of the Lord rapt away Philipos, and the eunuch again saw him not; but he went on his way rejoicing. But Philipos was found at Azotos, and from thence he itinerated and evangelized in all the cities until he came to Cesarea.

8

XXIV.

BUT Shaol was yet full of threatenings and murderous wrath against the disciples of our Lord. And he demanded letters from the chief priests which he should give at Darmsuk to the synagogues, that if he found (any) who walked in this way, men or women, he might bind and bring them to Urishlem.

And as he went and began to come nigh to Darmsuk, suddenly there shone forth upon him a light from heaven; and he fell upon the earth, and heard a voice which said to him, Shaol, Shaol, why persecutest thou me? It is hard to thee to kick against the pricks.

He answered and said, Who art thou, my Lord?

And our Lord said, I am Jeshu Natsroya, whom thou persecutest; but arise, go into Darmsuk, and there it will be spoken with thee concerning what thou must do.

And the men who went with him in the way stood astonished, because the voice alone they heard, but a man was not seen by them. And Shaol arose from the earth, and could not see any thing when his eyes were opened.

7 Verse 37 is wanting in the Peschito.

8 Wrath of slaughter.

And they took him by his hand and brought him into Darmsuk; and he saw not for three days, neither did he eat or drink.

But there was in Darmsuk a certain disciple whose name was Hanania. And the Lord said to him in a vision,

Hanania.

And he said, Behold me, my Lord.

And our Lord said to him, Arise, go to the street which is called the Straight, and inquire in the house of Jihuda for Shaol, who is from Tarsos the city. For, behold, while praying, he hath seen in a vision a man whose name is Hanania, who entered and laid upon him the hand that his eyes might be opened.

And Hanania said, My Lord, I have heard from many concerning this man, of how much evil he hath brought upon thy saints in Urishlem. And behold, here also he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all those who invoke thy name.

And the Lord said to him, Arise, go; for a vessel is he to me, chosen to bear my name to the nations, and to kings, and to the house of the sons of Israel. For I will show him what he is to suffer on account of my name.

Then Hanania went to the house unto him, and he laid upon him the hand, and said to him, Shaol, my brother, our Lord Jeshu hath sent me; He who appeared to thee in the way while thou wast coming, that thine eyes may be opened, and thou mayest be filled with the Spirit of Holiness. And instantly there fell from his eyes something which was like to scales; and his eyes were opened, and, arising, he was baptized. And he took food and was strengthened, and was (certain) days with those disciples who were in Darmsuk. And at once he preached in the synagogues of the Jihudoyee concerning Jeshu, that he is the Son of Aloha. And all they who

heard him wondered, and they said, Is not this he who persecuted all those who call upon this name in Urishlem? And behold, also, hither upon the self-same (object) was he sent to bind and take them to the chief priests.

XXV.

BUT Shaol was the more strengthened, and moved those Jihudoyee who dwelt at Darmsuk, while he showed that this is the Meshiha. And when days were many to him there, the Jihudoyee wrought treachery against him to kill him. But their treachery was showed to Shaol, which they sought to do to him; and that they kept the gates of the city day and night to kill him. Then the disciples set him in a pannier, and dismissed him from the wall by night. And he went to Urishlem, and willed to be attached to the disciples. And all of them were afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. But Bar Naba took him and brought him to the apostles, and recounted to them how in the way he had seen the Lord, and what he had spoken with him; and how in Darmsuk with boldness he had spoken in the name of Jeshu. And he went in with them and went out in Urishlem. And he spake in the name of Jeshu with boldness, and disputed with those Jihudoyee who knew Greek; but they were wishful to kill him. And when the brethren knew, they brought him by night to Cesarea, and from thence sent him to Tarsos. Nevertheless, in the church which was in Jihud, and in Galila, and Shomreen, there was peace, while (it) was edified; and going forward in the fear of Aloha, and in the consolation of the Spirit of Holiness, was multiplied.

9

And it was that while Shemun itinerated among the cities, he went down also to the saints who dwelt in Lud

9 Javanith.