34 tion for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch anfwered Philip, and faid, I pray thee, of whom fpeaketh the prophet this? of himfelf, or of 35 fome other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the fame fcripture, and preached unto 36 him Jefus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch faid, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be bap37 tized? And Philip faid, If thou believeft with all thine heart, thou mayeft. And he anfwered and faid, 38 I believe that Jefus Chrift is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand ftill: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the 39 eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch faw him. 40 no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus: and paffing through, he preached in all the cities, till he came to Cefarea.

CHA P. IX..

I AND Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and flaughter against the difciples of the Lord, went 2 unto the high priest, And defired of him letters to Damafcus to the fynagogues, that if he found any of this way (a), whether they were men or women, he 3 might bring them bound unto Jerufalem. And as he journeyed he came near Damafcus: and fuddenly there fhined round about him a light from heaven. 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice faying. unto him, Saul, Saul, why perfecutest thou me?

of the times. Again, they may fignify the everlafting duration of his kingdom, although the life that he had upon earth is taken away. In every one of thefe fenfes, the prophecy is exactly fulfilled in our Lord Jefus Chrift.

(a) Of this way, or profeffion, any who were Chriftians.

5 And he faid, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou perfecutest: It is hard 6 for thee to kick against the pricks (b). And he trembling and aftonifhed, faid, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord faid unto him, Arife, and go into the city, and it fhall be told thee what. 7 thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him flood fpeechlefs, hearing a voice, but feeing no 8 man (c). And Saul arofe from the earth; and when his eyes were opened (d), he faw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damaf'9 cus. And he was three days without fight, and neither did eat nor drink.

10

And there was a certain difciple at Damafcus, named Ananias, and to him faid the Lord in a vifion, Ananias. And he faid, Behold, I am here, Lord. 11 And the Lord faid unto him, Arife, and go into the freet which is called Straight, and enquire in the houfe of Judas, for one called Saul of Tarfus, for 12 behold he prayeth, And hath feen in a vifion a man nained Ananias, coming in, and putting his hand 13 on him, that he might receive his fight. Then Ananias anfwered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy faints (e) 14 at Jerufalem: And here he hath authority from the 15 chief priests, to bind all that call on thy name (f). But

the Lord faid unto hi, Go thy way: for he is a chofen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the

(b) It is as ufelefs for thee to oppofe my religion, as for an ox to kick against the goad of his driver.

(c) They were terrified at the awful found, though they saw not the fpeaker, nor heard any articulate words.

(d) His eyes, though open, were fo dazzled with the brightness of the glorious fight, that he was blind three days, which he spent in repentance, prayer, and fafting.

(e) Saints was a common name for Chriftians. See Matt. xxvii. 52. (f) To fend to prifon all Chriftians,

Gea

Gentiles (g), and kings, and the children of Ifrael. 16 For I will fhew him how great things he must suffer 17 for my name's fake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house: and putting his hands on him, faid, Brother Saul (b), the Lord (even Jefus that appeared unto thee in the way as thou cameft) hath fent me, that thou mighteft receive thy fight, 18 and be filled with the holy Ghoft. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been fcales (i); and he received fight forthwith, and arofe, and was bap19 tized. And when he had received meat, he was ftrengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the 20 difciples which were at Damafaus. And straightway

he preached Chrift in the fynagogues, that he is the 21 Son of God. But all that heard him were amazed, and faid, Is not this he that deftroyed them which called on this name in Jerufalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto 22 the chief priefts? But Saul increased the more in ftrength (), and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damafcus, proving that this is the very Chrift.

23

24

And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews. took counfel to kill him.. But their laying await was known of Saul: and they watched the gates day and 25 night to kill him. Then the difciples took him by

night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.. 26 And when Saul was come to Jerufalem (/), he affayed to join himself to the difciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a difci27 ple. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to

(g) A choice inftrument to propagate my religion among the Gentiles, or heathens.

(h) Ananias now acknowledgeth him for a brother chriftian.. (2) Something like the fcales of a fish.

(k) Was more confirmed in the faith and knowledge of chrif tianity.

(1) For the art time, about three years after his converfion. See Galat. i. 18.

the apostles, and declared unto them how he had feen the Lord in the way, and that he had fpoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damafcus 28 in the name of Jefus. And he was with them com29 ing in, and going out at Jerufalem (m). And he fpake boldly in the name of the Lord Jefus, and difputed against the Grecians (2): but they went about to fay 30 him. Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Cefarea, and fent him forth to Tarfus. 31 Then had the churches reft throughout all Judea and Galilee, and Samaria, and were edified, and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the holy Ghoft, were multiplied.

32

And it came to pafs, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down alfo to the faints which 33 dwelt at Lydda. And there he found a certain man named Eneas, which had kept his bed eight years, 34 and was fick of the palfy. And Peter faid unto him,

Eneas, Jefus Chrift maketh thee whole: arife and 35 make thy bed. And he arofe immediately. And all that dwelt at Lydda, and Saron, faw him, and turned to the Lord.

36

Now there was at Joppa, a certain difciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas : this woman was full of good works, and alms--deeds37 which he did. And it came to pafs in those days,

that he was fick, and died: whom when they had 38 wafhed, they laid her in an upper chamber. And forafmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the difciples had heard that Peter was there, they fent unto him two men, defiring him that he would not de39 lay to come to them. Then Peter arofe, and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood

(m) Familiarly and conftantly.

(n) The Grecians were Jews, who used a Greek tranflation of the criptures of the Old Teftament. Chap. vi. 1. Note.

by him weeping, and fhewing the coats and garments 40 which Dorcas made while fhe was with them. But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down and prayed, and turning him to the body, faid, Tabitha, arife. And the opened her eyes: and when the faw 41 Peter, fhe fat up. And he gave her his hand, and lift her up; and when he had called the faints and 42 widows, prefented her alive. And it was known

throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the 43 Lord. And it came to pafs, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.

CHA P. X.

I THERE was a certain man in Cefarea, called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian 2 band. A devout (a) man, and one that feared God with all his houfe, which gave much alms to the people, 3 and prayed to God alway. He faw in a vifion evidently, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in to him, and faying unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and faid, What is it, Lord? And he faid unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a me5 morial before God. And now fend men to Joppa, 6 and call for one Simon, whofe furname is Peter: He

4

lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the fea-fide: he fhall tell thee what thou oughteft to 7 do. And when the angel which fpake unto Cornelius, was departed, he called two of his houfhold fervants, and a devout foldier of them that waited on 8 him continually: And when he had declared all these things unto them, he fent them to Joppa.

(a) Devout is the word which throughout this book of the Acts is ufed for all uncircumcifed Gentile converts, who had renounced idolatry, and worshipped the true God, without fubmitting to the whole ceremonial law.