when suddenly there came a sound from heaven like a violent blast of wind, which filled the whole house where they were seated.

They saw tongues like flames distributing themselves, one resting on the head of each,

Now I know, brothers, that you acted in ignorance, like your rulers ??18 though this was how God fulfilled what he had announced beforehand by the lips of all the prophets, namely the sufferings of his Christ.

When it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And even after the sale, was the money not yours to do as you pleased about it? How could you think of doing a thing like this? You have not defrauded men but God."

Then all who were seated in the Sanhedrin fixed their eyes on him, and saw that his face shone like the face of an angel.

With a loud shriek they shut their ears and rushed at him like one man.

And the crowds attended like one man to what was said by Philip, listening to him and watching the miracles he performed.

Now the passage of scripture which he was reading was as follows: ??he was led like a sheep to be slaughtered, and as a lamb is dumb before the shearer, so he opens not his lips.

In a moment something like scales fell from his eyes, he regained his sight, got up and was baptized.

He saw heaven open and a vessel coming down, like a huge sheet lowered by the four corners to the earth,

"I was in the town of Joppa at prayer," he said, "and in a trance I saw a vision ??a vessel coming down like a huge sheet lowered from heaven by the four corners. It came down to me,

shouting, "Men, what is this you are doing? We are but human, with natures like your own! The gospel we are preaching to you is to turn from such futile ways to the living God who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all that in them is.

He took them up to his house and put food before them, overjoyed like all his household at having believed in God.

Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also came across him. Some said, "Whatever does the fellow mean with his scraps of learning'?" Others said, "He looks like a herald of foreign deities" (this was because he preached 'Jesus' and 'the Resurrection').

But as these are merely questions of words and persons and your own Law, you can attend to them for yourselves. I decline to adjudicate upon matters like that."

So the city was filled with confusion. They rushed like one man into the amphitheatre, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were travelling with Paul.

"I should like to hear the man myself," said Agrippa to Festus. "You shall hear him to-morrow," said Festus.