after he had given the apostles he had chosen, the orders they were to execute by the holy spirit.

to whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion, of which they had many proofs, during the forty days he appear'd to them, and inform'd them about the reign of the Messias:

being with them when they were assembled, he order'd they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for what the father had promis'd, which, said he, I mention'd.

but after he had purchased a field with the reward of his iniquity, he fell down, his belly burst, and all his bowels gushed out:

for David says concerning him, "I had the Lord always present before me, he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved.

that, as he was a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn to him, to place the fruit of his loins upon his throne: foreseeing this,

All that believed were united together, and had all things in common,

they were carrying a man who had been lame from his birth, one whom they daily laid at the gate of the temple called, Beauty-gate, to ask alms of those that pass'd into the temple.

which Peter observing, thus addressed them, ye men of Israel, why are ye so surprized at this event? or why do you look so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or piety, we had caus'd this man to walk?

but thus it is that God has accomplished what he had foretold by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer.

salvation is not to be had by any other: for there is no other name under heaven given to men whereby we can be saved.

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were illiterate, and of the lower rank of men, they were surpriz'd; but tho' they knew that they had been Jesus's disciples,

so when they had further threatned them, they let them go, not finding it practicable to punish them, because of the people, who all glorified God for that which was done.

As soon as they were discharg'd, they went to their brethren, and reported all that the chief priests and senators had said to them:

When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled, trembled; they were all filled with the holy spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

sold an estate he had, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles feet.

about the space of three hours after, his wife, not knowing what had happen'd, came in.

the prison we found shut very secure, and the keepers posted before the doors: but when we had opened it, we found no body within.

when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,

he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot of land: yet he promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his posterity after him, tho' he had then no child.

now while the time was approaching to accomplish what God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew numerous in Egypt,

at length Moses was instructed in all the sciences of the Egyptians, and had great influence by his counsels and actions.

our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, ordering Moses to make it according to the model that he had seen.

One Simon was then resident in that place, who pretended to be something extra-ordinary, and by his magical practices had so enchanted the people of Samaria,

no wonder they were so attach'd to one, who had for a long time infatuated them with his arts.

but when they had embraced the doctrine of Philip, concerning the kingdom of the Messias, and the authority of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem, heard that the Samaritans had embraced the word of God, they sent Peter and John,

(for as yet he had not descended on any of them: they having only been baptized in the name of the Lord

accordingly he departed: and met a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, and was her high-treasurer: he had been at Jerusalem, to perform the duties of a proselyte,

and when he had taken some food, he was refresh'd. after which Saul staid some time with the disciples at Damascus.

thereupon Barnabas took him with him to the apostles, and related to them how the Lord had appear'd to him on his journey, and had spoken to him, and how publickly Saul had preach'd at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

where finding a man named Eneas, a paralytic, who had kept his bed eight years,

she happen'd to fall sick at that time, and died: after they had bath'd her body, they laid her out in an upper chamber.

and after he had related to them the whole affair, he sent them to Joppa.

and being seiz'd with hunger, he would have had something to eat: but while they were making it ready, he fell into a trance,

they answered, Cornelius the centurion, a man of probity and piety, one that has an universal good character among the Jews, was divinely admonish'd by an holy angel to send for you to his house, to hear what you had to say to him.

you know, how his fame spread from Galilee through all Judea, after the baptism which John had preach'd:

not to all the people, but to those witnesses, which God had before chosen: to us, I say, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.

and he commanded us to publish, and to testify to the people, that he was the person whom God had constituted to be the judge of the living, and of the dead.

In the mean time, the apostles, and the brethren, who were in Judea, heard that the Gentiles had likewise receiv'd the word of God.

he told us how he had seen an angel, who had presented himself to him, and had said, send to Joppa, to fetch Simon, surnam'd Peter:

if therefore God has bestow'd the same favour upon them, as on us, after we had believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, how could I make any opposition to the divine will?

In the mean time they who were dispers'd upon the persecution that arose after Stephen's time, had travell'd as far as Phenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, without preaching the gospel to any, but Jews only.

so he went out after the angel without knowing that what the angel had done, was real; but thinking it was all a vision.

when they had pass'd the first and second guard, they came to the iron-gate that leads to the city, which open'd to them of itself: so they went out and pass'd together thro' one street: when all of a sudden the angel quitted Peter. Then coming to himself; now,

when he had knock'd at the door of the gate, a servant named Rhoda came to ask who was there.

but he made a sign to them with his hand, to be silent: and related to them, how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. go, said he, and acquaint James and the other brethren with this affair. after which he departed and went to another place.

and Saul had executed their commission, they return'd to Jerusalem, and took with them John who was surnam'd Mark.

Now there were several prophets and teachers in the church of Antioch, as Barnabas, Simeon surnam'd Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

when they were arrived at Salamis, they preach'd the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews, and had John for their assistant.

before his appearance, John had preach'd the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

after they had accomplished all that was written concerning him, he was taken down from the cross, and laid in a sepulchre:

and for many days he was seen by those, who had accompany'd him from Galilee to Jerusalem: and they are now his witnesses to the people.

to you therefore we declare, that the promise which God had made to the fathers, he has now perform'd to us, who are their children, by his having raised up Jesus again.

for David, after he had serv'd in his time the designs of providence, died and was buryed with his fathers, and was subject to corruption.

by him, every one who believes, is purged from all that guilt, for which the law of Moses had made no such provision.

when the Jews saw such a crowd, they were fill'd with resentment, and oppos'd what Paul had advanc'd, even to blasphemy.

Now at Lystra there was a man, who could not stand upon his feet, he was born a cripple, and had never walked about.

When the people saw what Paul had done, they cry'd out in the Lycaonian tongue, the Gods have assum'd a human form, and are descended among us.

Now some Jews being arriv'd from Antioch and Iconium, work'd so upon the people, that they stoned Paul, and dragg'd him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.

After they had preach'd the gospel in that city, and made many disciples, they retook the road to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch,

and after they had by prayers and fastings establish'd Pastors for them in every church, they recommended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

from thence they sailed to Antioch, where they had been recommended to the favour of God, for the commission, which they had now discharg'd.

when they were arrived, and had assembled the Church, they related what great things God had wrought by them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles:

and being arrived at Jerusalem, they were receiv'd by the church, by the apostles, and presbyters, to whom they related all that God had done by them.

but some of the sect of the Pharisees who had embraced the faith, started up, pretending that the Gentiles ought to be circumcised, and observe the law of Moses.

and after the question had been much canvass'd, Peter rose up, and said, my brethren, you know that a considerable time since God chose me from among you to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, and bring them to the faith.

The whole assembly were very silent, whilst Barnabas and Paul related what miracles and prodigies God had wrought among the Gentiles by their ministry.

After they had done speaking, James assum'd the discourse, and said, my brethren, give me your attention.

and after they had stay'd there some time, with the good wishes of the brethren, they had leave to go to the apostles.

but Paul did not think it proper to take one that had quitted them at Pamphylia, refusing to accompany them in their ministry.

as the brethren of Lystra and Iconium gave him a good character, Paul had a mind he should accompany him.

so he took him and had him circumcised, out of regard to the Jews of that country, who all knew his father was a Greek.

but after they had travers'd Phrygia and Galatia, they were order'd by the holy spirit not to preach the gospel in Asia:

there Paul had a vision in the night. a Macedonian appear'd to him, and thus address'd him, "pass on to Macedonia, and come to our relief."

immediately after he had had this vision, we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, concluding from thence, that the Lord had called us to publish the gospel there. we embark'd therefore at Troas,

One day as we went to the oratory, we happen'd to meet a slave, who had the spirit Python, and was very gainful to her masters by telling of fortunes.

her masters finding they had lost such a prospect of gain, seized upon Paul and Silas, and hawl'd them to the publick place before the magistrates.

after they had been severely lash'd, they were thrown into prison, the jayler being charg'd to keep them safe.

the jayler waking, and seeing the prison-doors open, drew his sword, designing to dispatch himself from the apprehension that the prisoners had escaped.

so the jayler told Paul, the magistrates had order'd them to be discharg'd. depart then, said he, and go in peace.

but when the Jews of Thessalonica were inform'd that Paul had preached the word of God at Berea, they went thither to stir up the populace.

for considering, as I pass'd along, the deitys, which you adore, I met with an altar that had this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. now that GOD whom you worship without knowing him, is the same that I denounce to you.

where having found a Jew nam'd Aquila, a native of Pontus, who lately came from Italy, with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had order'd all the Jews to quit Rome; he went to them:

When he had left them, he went to the house of one Justus a proselyte to Judaism, who lived near the synagogue: however Crispus,

Paul still continued a considerable time at Corinth, and then taking his leave of the brethren, he set sail for Syria, with Priscilla and Aquila, who had his head shav'd in Cenchrea upon account of a vow.

after he had stay'd there some time, he departed and pass'd through all Galatia and Phrygia, where he encourag'd the disciples.

he had been instructed in the doctrine of the gospel, and being full of zeal, he harangued with great assiduity about what related to Jesus, though he had been only instituted in the baptism of John.

having talk'd with great freedom in the synagogue, Aquila and Priscilla, who had heard him, invited him home, and gave him a more distinct view of the gospel.

and being determin'd to pass into Achaia, the brethren who advis'd him to it, writ to the disciples to receive him. when he was arrived, he was, by the divine favour, very useful to those, who had receiv'd the faith.

or aprons that had touch'd his skin, to the distemper'd, they were cured, and the evil spirits came out of the possessed.

many that had practis'd magical arts, brought the books and publickly threw them into the fire: the value by computation amounting to fifty thousand pieces of silver.

after this, Paul had a design to pass thro' Macedonia and Achaia in his way to Jerusalem: purposing when he had been there to make a visit to Rome.

and the whole city was fill'd with confusion: all crouded in a body to the theatre, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, both of Macedonia, who had travell'd with Paul.

for Paul had determined not to go ashore at Ephesus, to avoid losing time in Asia: because he was eager to get to Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of pentecost.

he was one of the seven deacons, and had four daughters all virgins, prophetesses.

after we had been there several days, a prophet arriv'd from Judea, one Agabus, who made us a visit.

after having saluted them, he gave a particular account of what God had wrought by his ministry among the Gentiles.

(for having seen Trophimus an Ephesian with him in the city, they imagin'd Paul had conducted him into the temple.)

the commander advanc'd, seiz'd him, and order'd to load him with two chains: then demanded who he was, and what he had done.